NEWS RELEASE

  First Things First South Phoenix Regional Partnership Council: Bringing Much Needed Early Services and Supports to Young Children             

Beginning July 1, 2009, more than $10 million dollars will be invested in the South Phoenix area 

Phoenix, Arizona (December 23, 2008) - How can we best ensure that young children grow up healthy and ready to succeed?  That question was not only asked, but answered by groups of volunteers in the South Phoenix area.  These volunteers, as members of 31 eleven-person Regional Partnership Councils statewide, recently identified needed investments in children ages 0-5 and their families throughout Arizona. They also selected funding priorities where First Things First monies will be invested in 2009.

After conducting local assessments of the needs of young children and their families, the First Things First South Phoenix Regional Partnership Council announced their funding priorities. Beginning July 1, 2009, more than $10 million dollars will be invested in the South Phoenix area including Tolleson and Laveen. The following are just some of the highlights of the funded strategies that will
impact children 0-5:

•  Early Literacy – First Things First monies will be invested locally to help foster literacy development, so that young children come to Kindergarten ready to learn to read. 
• Health Screenings-Children in targeted areas in Maricopa County will receive dental, hearing,  vision, and developmental screenings to identify undetected health needs and connect them to appropriate services.  
• Scholarships and Training – First Things First monies will be invested in scholarships and training for early childhood professionals. Research suggests that such investments help improve outcomes for the young children in their care. 
• Quality First!-  Regional Councils in the Phoenix area invested in the creation of a quality improvement and rating system (called Quality First!) for early care and education providers.  Monies will be invested to help improve child care, and provide information to families on assessing quality care. 
• Pre-K Scholarships-Targeted families will be provided financial assistance so that they are better able to afford quality early care and education for their children. Scholarships will be provided to at-risk families based on income. 
• Family Crisis Intervention-New monies will be dedicated to help families in crisis connect to needed services, including counseling and respite. Such supports are aimed at helping families avoid abuse and neglect of their young children.  Other monies will be invested to help families connect with and receive needed supports, such as food assistance and public health insurance.  

First Things First funds are generated by a statewide 80 cents tax on tobacco products that Arizona voters approved in November 2006 when Proposition 203 was passed. 

James Washington, Vice-Chair with the South Phoenix Regional Partnership Council said, “This is a real honor to be on the ground level developing a system that will impact families for generations to come.”

First Things First and the Regional Councils are in sync with the national movement emphasizing the early years as the best time for investment.  Recent media coverage has highlighted President-elect Obama’s strategic focus on early childhood education.  In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever to invest in children now.  Most of a child’s brain development occurs from zero to five. If they are not prepared for Kindergarten, research shows us that they will not only falter in school and not achieve their potential, but may also cost the community in the long run. Regional Councils across Phoenix are focusing on their future workforce, preparing their children to compete in a global market place.

South Phoenix Regional Partnership Council members include: Robert Donofrio, Chair(At Large), James Washington, Vice-Chair (Business), Christopher Canelake (Philanthropy), William Ellert (Health Services Provider), Moises Gallegos (Child Care Provider), Patricia Merk (Educator), Rosalind Polston (Faith-based), Cindy Segotta-Jones (School Administrator), Eva Marie Shivers (At Large), Mary Thomson (At Large)

 To learn more please visit www.azftf.gov.

###