You can make a difference in the lives of young children by volunteering to serve your AZ community, by joining a First Things First regional partnership council.
What is a Regional Partnership Council?
Decisions about how early childhood funds are invested are informed at the local level by FTF regional partnership councils, which represent the richly diverse communities across Arizona.
Regional partnership council members provide vision and leadership—making high-level decisions and working within their communities to help children from birth to age 5 enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.
Each regional council has 11 volunteers recommending strategies to strengthen early childhood programs and services based on their community’s needs.
Why Should You Apply?
Serving on a regional council is a unique leadership opportunity to make a lasting impact on children and families in your community. As a regional council member, you will:
- Advocate for early childhood and engage others in supporting young children and families.
- Provide direction and vision toward achieving FTF’s mission and goals within your region.
- Help develop and oversee a regional needs and assets assessment and strategic funding plan.
- Recommend grants and strategies that address local priorities for young children.
Your time, expertise and commitment will help ensure that every child in Arizona has the opportunity to succeed.
Who Should Apply?
The ideal regional partnership council member:
- Cares deeply about the well-being of young children and families.
- Brings professional knowledge, lived experience or a trusted community perspective.
- Is willing to serve and champion early childhood.
- Works well with others and values diverse perspectives.
Applicants must work or reside in the region where they wish to serve.
The Process
The First Things First Board appoints regional council members after a public application process. Positions on each regional council are designated for the following members:
- Parent of a child age 5 or younger
- Child care provider
- Health services provider
- Public school administrator
- Early childhood educator
- Member of the business community
- Representative of the faith community
- Representative of a philanthropic organization
- Tribal member public official/employee
- At-large representative
As part of the public application process, qualified applicants are referred to regional nominating committees for interviews. Regional council members are ultimately appointed by the First Things First Board. Appointed members serve four-year terms.
Interested?
To learn more about serving on a First Things First regional council, please read the Regional Partnership Council Member Application Guide before submitting an application.
Have questions? Email us: serve@FirstThingsFirst.org.
