How Regional Councils Work 

First Things First Regional Partnership Councils have a 4-step process to help give kids the tools they need to start school healthy and ready to succeed.

Step 1 - Needs and Asset Reports: each Regional Council learns what is available and working in their community.   Find your Regional Council's report on their Reports and Publications page.

Step 2 - Community needs are prioritized.  Strategies to meet those needs are identified and informed by the First Things First policy staff - who recommend evidence-based, collaborative and system-building approaches in 3 main areas:

Supporting Kids and Families

Health

Early Care and Education

The FTF Strategy Toolkit includes information on over 70 strategies and is organized into sections reflecting the Goal Areas of First Things First. Each strategy section contains information pertinent to strategy implementation, including research evidence, the FTF Standard of Practice, costs or considerations.

Also, First Things First statute requires building public awareness of the importance of the first years, so parents can support their child, and communities support families.

Step 3 - A competitive grant process begins

Step 4 - After a grantee has been selected to fulfill those prioritized needs, the grantee is monitored and evaluated to ensure measurements are met and programs are successful.