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We're proud to celebrate FTF Board member Dr. Christian Osmeña as an honoree of the 2025 Phoenix Business Journal's 40 Under 40. Dr. Osmeña was selected from a pool of 374 nominees as an outstanding Valley executive and entrepreneur making a mark in the industry. Dr. Osmeña is

You weren't just born with stellar decision-making and critical thinking. Those skills were learned and honed—and the first five years shape a lifetime. Claire Todd, FTF regional partnership council member in the #FTFPhxNorth region, has seen the power of supporting families

Families with young children need all the support they can get. It's on us as employers, community leaders and businesses to be resourceful to those raising the next generation. We made it simple for you to learn why affordable, accessible, high-quality early education =

What exactly is an early childhood agency? Let's unpack that. We're voter-created and funded by tobacco tax, and local organizations get those funds through grants. To families, that means programs and services that address the development, education and health needs of

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that child care expenses should be less than 7% of their household income. Specifically in Arizona, the median income for a married couple is $119,616 and $44,148 for a single parent family, which means center-based child

The first five years are a once-in-a-lifetime window to shape a child's future. What % of brain growth happens before kindergarten? (It's probably more than you think: FirstThingsFirst.org/early-childhoo…)

This is your invitation to challenge prejudice you might have about men in early childhood education. In Arizona, only about 6% of early educators are men—and research shows that having male and female providers helps young children learn. "First off, let’s crush the myth that

Pediatricians have been urged by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to prescribe this one thing to children... PLAY. “Play is not frivolous. It enhances brain structure and function and promotes executive function — the process of learning, rather than the content," said

For Elisia Manuel, connecting families with resources is a major part of serving the FTF Gila River Indian Community Region. "Our community—we're in a rural area, so we have a different need. We've been able to impact children, parents and grandparents raising grandchildren by

More than half of Arizona parents report lost productivity at work due to child care challenges. With rising housing and child care costs, many families simply can’t afford reduced hours or missed workdays. Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC)'s Child Care Design Lab is here to help. This

In Arizona, there's only one public funding source dedicated exclusively to early childhood, the beginning of our state’s education continuum. 👋 That's us, First Things First—working at the state and local levels to give AZ kids the opportunity to arrive at kindergarten healthy

Grateful to see early childhood at the center of workforce conversations! 💼👶 Huge thanks to Melinda Morrison Gulick for representing First Things First and lifting up how access to child care strengthens Arizona’s economy and supports working families. #AZWorkforceSummit2025

We often say early childhood educators are the workforce behind the workforce—while parents are at work, they're nurturing the next generation. Investing in our early educators impacts more than just families—it's vital for community well-being. How local officials can

New study on how a baby's brain development and growth has a huge impact on their future. First Things First has been saying this for almost 20 years!

Preschool & early child care lay the foundation for lifelong learning. Without that early boost, future success can be harder to reach. We applaud orgs like Read On Arizona & First Things First that are working to close the gap and expand access for Arizona families. ktar.com/arizona-educat…

New babies don't come with instruction manuals—yet those early years are the most foundational for a child's lifelong success. Parents are responsible for encouraging positive development, but it's hard to do that without resources and support. The Birth to Five Helpline is a

There's no parenting manual handed out when you have a baby—and while most parents are figuring it out as they go, it helps to have some guidance. First Things First, Arizona's early childhood agency, funds the Parenting Education Strategy to support parents with classes on a

Thank you to the Arizona legislature and Governor Hobbs for including $45 million to expand childcare subsidies in the budget and cover about half of the children on the waitlist!

Arizona made a bipartisan, historic investment for early childhood as the State Fiscal Year 2026 budget passed. We've been saying it for years: early childhood education is tied to the success of Arizona's families, economy and workforce development. It's a win for all of us.