FIRST THINGS FIRST Northwest Regional Partnership Council
Allocated Over $6 Million To Serve Children 0-5
Glendale, Ariz. (October 22, 2008) First Things First – the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board – has announced that the Northwest Maricopa Regional Partnership Council will be allocated over $6 million in First Things First funds to create positive change for young children and their families in their community.
The Northwest Maricopa Regional Partnership Council is a voluntary governance body responsible for improving early childhood development and health outcomes for children zero through age five in neighborhoods and communities throughout the Northwest Maricopa Region. The Northwest Maricopa Region includes the communities of: Aguila, El Mirage, Glendale, Morristown, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Waddell, Wickenburg, Wittmann, and Youngtown.
Currently, the Northwest Maricopa Regional Partnership Councils is determining local priorities for community needs and identifying service gaps. “Through our work with First Things First, we have an incredible opportunity to positively affect the lives of our young children,” states Council Member Cory Underhill. “It is truly an investment in our future, the future of our children and the future of our society. Our investment in children age birth to 5 years is like throwing a pebble into a lake: the ripples from the investment will affect not only those children’s lives, but the lives of generations to come.”
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First Things First funds are generated by a statewide 80 cent tax on tobacco products.
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Regional Partnership Councils receive 81 percent of the total funds, while 10 percent of the funds are used for agency administrative costs and nine percent for statewide initiatives.
- Allocation for each region is based on census population numbers of children birth through 5 years old, with extra weight given to children in poverty.
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Funding will be distributed through a grant application process beginning in January of 2009 with grant awards beginning on July 1, 2009.
First Things First is creating an early childhood system that affords Arizona children an equal chance to reach their fullest potential, provide families with real choices about their children’s educational and developmental experiences, and engage every community in sharing the responsibility as well as enjoy the benefits of safe, healthy and productive residents.
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