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Region Stories

These stories illustrate how early childhood programs and services funded by First Things First make a difference for young children and families in communities across Arizona.

Quality preschool puts Phoenix first grader at top of class

  • Quality First

​​Maria Jesus Cervantes’ initial experience with a poor quality child care center left her toddler crying every time she dropped her off.Through Quality…
mom-and-son-at-school

College scholarship helps Pascua Yaqui staff work toward dream of opening culturally relevant child…

  • professional development

​As Andrea Romero works her way through college, she looks at her son Isaiha for inspiration. “I was a young parent and had to work very hard to get where…
girl-at-school

Quality First preschool prepares Wittman girl for kindergarten success

  • Quality First

When Laura Aguirre’s daughter Idali turned 3 years old, she knew she wanted to provide her with a safe, quality early learning environment where she could…
boy-with-toy

Peoria boy benefits from high quality care in his early years

  • Quality First

When Victoria Roybal needed to find child care for her toddler, she wanted most to find a caregiver she could trust.This was even more critical for her son…
girl-by-river

Young explorer gets hooked on books

  • school readiness

​Young Kylie Riebli loves princesses, the color pink and paddling her own kayak while exploring the Verde River with her parents –she also loves to…

Child care scholarship allows Prescott preschooler to soar

  • Quality First

​​When Dove Gunderman or Prescott decided to restart her academic journey to become a speech therapist, her youngest daughter Juliette was 4 years old. The…
boy-in-church

Quality First center helps Whiteriver toddler prepare for kindergarten

  • Quality First

Audra Cosen of Whiteriver became a single mother to five boys just as her next to youngest son, Ari, turned two.Cosen, who worked as a full-time teacher in…
kids-playing-chess

High quality preschool environment brings out the best in Goodyear girl

  • Quality First

Zoe Mullins was only 4 years old when she began beating her father at chess.“It’s not that her dad is a bad player, but that Zoe is just that good,”…
girl-smiling

Nogales mother learns how to prepare her daughter for kindergarten

  • home visitation

Yesenia’s baby daughter Melanie was only 18 days old when her mother enrolled in the Healthy Families Arizona program in Nogales.She was already a mom to…

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