Pay attention to your child’s development
Every child develops at their own pace, but there are certain milestones they should reach from birth to 5 years old.
Board Priorities
The Board is accountable for achieving results that enhance the development, impact, and operation of FTF. Its priorities are compatible with and accountable to FTF’s vision, mission and values and to the FTF Strategic Plan. Some priorities are specifically listed in those documents; others are required in statute; and others the Board chooses for itself. … Read More
Duties and Job Description
Title: Board Member The Arizona Early Childhood Development & Health Board provides leadership, governance, and vision to FTF as provided in Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 8, Chapter 13, and specifically Section 8-1192. The Board works to achieve the mission and vision of FTF by setting policy and providing oversight and leadership. The vision of FTF … Read More
Responsible Governance
Preamble We believe that every child in Arizona deserves the opportunity to arrive at school healthy and prepared to succeed. We believe that our role is to provide leadership, advocacy, public policies, programs and means to achieve this vision. We believe that the governance and administration of FTF should be conducted according to the laws … Read More
Report Highlights Challenges of State’s Youngest Children
All Arizonans Urged to Do More to Support Health, Education Improvements PHOENIX – (January 22, 2018) – Almost 1 in 3 young children in Arizona live in poverty, a risk factor for later difficulties, including lower academic achievement. This is just one of the challenges faced by many of Arizona’s almost 550,000 infants, toddlers and … Read More
Parenting with Extra Challenges
Learn about resources for single, teen or disabled parents, and grandparents.
Early Childhood Research
The Building Blocks of Lifelong Success Decades of research prove that children with access to high-quality early childhood programs are better prepared for kindergarten, perform well in school and are more likely to pursue higher education. These children also grow into healthier, more productive members of society. The benefits of early childhood experiences include: Higher … Read More
How We Work
First Things First works at the state and local levels to give Arizona children the opportunity to arrive at kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed. We invest in proven programs and innovative strategies through grants to community organizations that provide services to children and families. We provide professional expertise and oversight to support local programs … Read More
Early literacy experiences lead to reading success for San Carlos Apache fourth-grader
When Marlencia Benally enrolled her 1-year-old son in a program to receive children’s books every month in the mail, she had no idea that she would be opening up much more than storybook worlds to him with reading. Eight years later, she was the one to receive the happy surprise when she opened the mailbox: … Read More
First Things First Named Among Top 25 Innovations in Government by Harvard University
PHOENIX – May 2, 2017 – Today, First Things First was announced as a Top 25 program in this year’s Innovations in American Government Awards competition by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. As a Top 25 program, First Things First is representing the top … Read More