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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.

Clay Stidham Jr. is Navajo/Apache’s 2017 Champion for Young Children

  • champion

Clay Stidham Jr. has been selected as the 2017 Navajo/Apache First Things First Champion for Young Children.The award is given to local champions who actively…

Carolyn Alexander is La Paz/Mohave’s 2017 Champion for Young Children

  • champion

Carolyn Alexander has been selected as the 2017 La Paz/Mohave First Things First Champion for Young Children.The award is given to local champions who actively…

Paulette LeBlanc is Graham/Greenlee’s 2017 Champion for Young Children

  • champion

Paulette LeBlanc has been selected as the 2017 Graham/Greenlee First Things First Champion for Young Children.The award is given to local champions who…

apache-girl-smiling

Native language preservation program benefits San Carlos Apache girl

  • language literacy and culture

One of the reasons April Noline enrolled her infant daughter Emma-Jean in the San Carlos Apache Kid Child Care Center was that it provided instruction in the…

veteran-dad-and-son

Military veteran finds quality child care to help son learn and grow

  • Quality First

Kyle Wright, a veteran, was running out of options.The Navy veteran and single dad was working full-time and taking college classes through the GI Bill, and he…

girl-with-helmet-smiling

Quality preschool helps third grader reach top of the class

  • Quality First

When their daughter Natalia was just 18-months-old, long before preschool, Phoenix resident Maria de Jesus Cervantes and her husband began searching for a…

girl-by-fence

Yuma mom helps build her daughter’s vocabulary by reading to her from day one

  • parenting education

When Amy Crawford gave birth to her baby girl, she felt an overwhelming anxiety.​​​​​“We felt lost and scared and did not know what to do,”…

Mark Becker

Mark Becker is Yuma’s 2018 Champion for Young Children

  • champion

Mark Becker has been selected as the 2018 Yuma First Things First Champion for Young Children.The award is given to local champions who actively volunteer…

hopi-girl-smiling

Hopi girl’s self-esteem blossoms with help from her mom

  • parenting education

When Tia was 4 years old, her mother Tracy Billy worried about her self-esteem. Billy was working full time during the day at the hospital, taking evening…

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