Latest News at FTF
FTF Lends Support to Mayors Education Roundtable
In October, 10 mayors from across the state formally launched the Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable, a group focused on connecting Arizona mayors on education issues.
Members of the Roundtable have in-depth discussions about education initiatives, overcome policy barriers, and develop common, cohesive strategies for addressing local education problems.
 Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton is one of the founding members of the Roundtable. In announcing the group's formation, Stanton said there is much that mayors can do to improve education, including committing city resources to advancing education initiatives. For example, Stanton said, cities could make Head Start programs a higher priority, improve after-school programs and introduce reading programs in public libraries.
First Things First CEO Rhian Evans Allvin said Stanton's comments are the result of growing awareness by leaders statewide that early childhood plays a critical role in the improvement of educational quality in Arizona.
"We have visited with many mayors – including Mayor Stanton – and more and more we are seeing that they understand the critical role of early childhood – not just to the educational success of kids in their neighborhoods – but to development of their economies and the strength of their communities," Allvin said.
FTF has offered the expertise of its staff to inform the Roundtable's efforts in early childhood and encouraged mayors to collaborate with their local First Things First Regional Councils to maximize educational initiatives focused on children ages birth to 5.
The Roundtable is supported in part by a grant from the Helios Education Foundation and managed by WestEd, a research, development and service agency. Founding members of the Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable include Stanton, along with Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers, Gilbert Mayor John Lewis, Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, Miami Mayor Rosemary Castaneda, Oro Valley Mayor Satish Hiremath, Sahuarita Mayor Duane Blumberg, and Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell. Several other mayors will be invited to expand membership in the first year.
According to the group's website, the Roundtable supports city-school-district engagement and collaborations on local education issues through technical assistance and support to mayors, school superintendents, their respective staff members and community stakeholders. In addition, the Roundtable will develop and implement evidence-based approaches to improving outcomes in cities and build political will and cross-sector engagement in planning local education agendas.
Gratitude is a Skill Best Learned When Young
By Rhian Evans Allvin, CEO
The holiday season is the perfect time to teach young kids one of life's most important lessons: gratitude. Children who are thankful now learn to empathize and appreciate the feelings of others – skills that will serve them well as adults.
 Although they may not always be able to express it, kids as young as 2 understand that others do things for them or give them things that make them happy, according to Barbara Lewis, author of What Do You Stand For? For Kids. As they continue to grow – between 3 and 5 years old – young kids will understand the concepts of kindness and caring.
A 2003 study from the University of California-Davis found thankful people are usually happier, more optimistic and are less depressed and stressed. But – like many other life skills – gratitude is a learned behavior.
Teaching kids gratitude can be challenging, but here are a few tips from a recent article in Parents Magazine online by Charlotte Latvala:
- Work gratitude into your daily conversation. Saying thank you, dinnertime blessings and evening prayers are good reminders of things we are thankful for.
- Have kids help. When they help with daily activities, kids appreciate the time and effort that goes in to them.
- Find a goodwill project. Grand gestures aren't necessary; just making a get well card for a friend can be a valuable lesson.
- Encourage generosity. Donating toys or clothes they have outgrown and talking about the children who will benefit are powerful reinforcements.
- Insist on thank-you notes. It's good manners, and a good lesson.
- Practice saying no. If children never hear no, how can they appreciate a yes?
- Be patient. Repetition is one of the main ways young kids learn. Gratitude won't develop overnight, but it will happen with enough practice.
In the first years of life, children learn the skills that will make them successful in school and life. By teaching them to appreciate what they have and the efforts of others, we are helping our kids to be content, stable adults. What better way to show our own gratitude for one of life's greatest blessings?
Partner News
ASU, Gila River Partner in Preparing Early Childhood Educators
 ASU's Center for Indian Education has been awarded a $1.2 million grant for an innovative teacher preparation project that will enroll 16 Native American participants in an ASU bachelor's degree program offered onsite within the Gila River Indian Community. The four-year project is a joint partnership between ASU and the Gila River Indian Community's Tribal Education department and funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Indian Education.
The project "Gila River Early Educators Attaining Teaching Excellence" (GRE²ATE) has been designed to serve American Indian educators already working with children in Head Start and Early Education classrooms on the Gila River Indian Community reservation. Participants will complete this interdisciplinary bachelor's program while continuing to teach at their schools.
The program focuses on early years of curriculum planning, child development, family involvement, transitioning children from Head Start and tribal preschools to K-3, and integrating culture and Native language into early childhood classrooms. Also built into the program are features to ensure participant success, including mentoring and test-taking and technology training.
The site-based cohort will graduate with a concentration in early childhood education, leading to Arizona Early Childhood Teacher Certification. A year of induction mentoring will follow, to help graduates initiate an ongoing professional network of support in using culturally relevant and language-rich early education teaching practices.
"The Center for Indian Education believes that partnering with tribal nations like Gila River Indian Community fulfills part of the New American University's design aspirations to leverage our place, transform society, enable student success, and be socially embedded," says center co-director Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy, Borderlands Associate Professor of Indigenous Education and Justice in the School of Social Transformation and principal investigator on the grant. "We are honored to collaborate with the Gila River Community in this important work."
Mario Molina, Tribal Education director for the Gila River Indian Community, sees the program as a sustainable model for instruction that will build capacity from within the community.
"The GRE²ATE program will provide my community an opportunity to develop our own teaching cadre that will recognize and encompass the essence of the Akimel O'Otham and Pee Posh culture, language and heritage as we teach our young members," says Molina. "We see this as a positive attribute that will help sustain the community for years and generations to come, and will serve as a model of instruction that we hope will work in concert with the beliefs that we hold dear as an indigenous community." |
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FTF @ Work
Relatives and Friends Caring for Young Kids Build Early Education Skills
By Ashley Pascual and Magdalena Garcia
When Cynthia heard a presentation about the importance of early caregivers in a child's future educational success, she was eager to sign up for classes on what she could do to impact learning for the kids in her care.
Cynthia is one of many relatives and friends in the Cocopah Tribe who care for young kids while their parents work. On Mother's Day, she saw a presentation on the Kith and Kin Project, available through a collaboration between the FTF Yuma and Cocopah Regional Partnership Councils and administered by the Association for Supportive Child Care.
In July, Cynthia began participating in the 14-week program, where she learned the skills "to be the best caregiver for my children and grandchildren."
The program provides a hands-on approach to increase caregivers' knowledge about early childhood development on topics such as early brain development, home safety, play, child nutrition and discipline.
Cynthia takes care of her grandson, so that her daughter (the child's mother) can attend school during the day and get a good education. As a participant in the program, Cynthia is also taking the information back to teach her daughter the skills she learns in class.
"Having all my children past the age of 5, I thought I already knew everything about raising a child, now I am learning about brain development!" Cynthia said, adding that she has learned how to play "the alphabet soup" and how to make playdough at home. "(The instructor) helped us to focus on the goals we have set for ourselves and our family, encouraging us to reach each one of them."
Cynthia said she is grateful she was able to participate in this type of program. "I am very thankful for this program; I have learned how to help my grandson and my daughter have a bright future."
Families Benefit from Coordination of Services
By Conrad Lindo
When new mom Nadia found Pendleton Pediatrics, she not only found a doctor for her son, Jaden, and daughter, Jayanna; she also found someone who would connect her to resources that would help her become a stronger parent.
Pendleton Pediatrics is participating in the Care Coordination/Medical Home strategy funded through the FTF Central Maricopa Regional Partnership Council. Care Coordination enhances access to needed services and resources, promotes optimal health and functioning of children, and supports improved quality of health. Effective care coordination begins with recognizing the relationship between the family, the health care provider and the care coordinator.
During a check-up visit for her Jaden, Nadia, who was struggling with the pressures and responsibilities of being a single mom, asked for help with services. Soon afterward, she was contacted by Emily Hughes, a care coordinator. Hughes spends her time meeting with families to assess their needs, conducts follow up phone calls and home visits, and refers families to services they need.
"Care coordination is imperative to provide patients with holistic care, including addressing their physical, psychosocial, medical, educational, developmental, and emotional needs. Without it, children's ability to stay healthy, to learn well, to be safe in their homes, to have competent parents with adequate resources, and to have the best chance of success as they grow is severely compromised," said Dr. Judith Pendleton. "To provide exceptional care in a medical home, every pediatric practice must have an on-site coordinator. Without Emily, we would be providing mediocre care and families would be slipping through the cracks."
Hughes was able to provide Nadia with children's clothes and a new car seat for her son Jaden. Recently, Hughes delivered a double stroller, baby food, and diapers and referred Nadia to affordable housing.
The medical staff at Pendleton Pediatrics utilizes care coordination to meet the families where they are, they treat the whole family. Often, families who come in to see the doctor face many challenges: lack of insurance, misinformation about well checks and vaccines, children with special needs, lack of child care and transportation, housing, rent relief and car seats.
Nadia is now living in Central Phoenix with her children and is working to complete a medical assistant program in June. She said her children are doing well. "They are healthy and learning."
Love of Learning Built to Last
By Memarie Tsosie
Last year, Marlene took her 4-year old daughter, Victoria, to Kids Day at the Navajo Nation Fair. What she didn't expect from one encounter at the First Things First booth was to see Victoria in preschool soon after. While speaking with home visitors from the Nihiyazhi Ba'iit'ih Home Visitation Program – funded by the FTF Navajo Nation Regional Partnership Council – she decided to sign up because she wanted to prepare Victoria for school.
Now that Victoria is at Window Rock Preschool, she doesn't ever want to leave. "When we go to pick her up, most of the time we end up staying 30-45 minutes after school because she is still going," Marlene said.
Victoria's dad, Shawn Bia, Sr., said she loves school so much, she gets upset when there's a three-day weekend. However, Shawn tries as much as possible to create learning opportunities when Victoria's not at school.
"When we are driving in the car, we put books with her in the backseat. She talks and plays with the books like she's reading." Shawn said, adding that he is eager for his daughter to learn, "I want to buy her more building blocks and puzzles."
Both parents are also very proud of the work Victoria brings back from school and have an entire wall in their home dedicated to all of her masterpieces.
Home visitors, like Sharissa Ben, work with the whole family in setting goals to help with their young child's health and development. Enrolling Victoria in preschool was only one of Marlene and Shawn's goals for Victoria.
The family also worked to ensure Victoria received proper health and dental care. Now, Marlene is scheduling Victoria for regular check-ups with the pediatrician and the dentist.
As a home visitor, Sharissa also works to connect families with resources in their own communities, which is how the family was able to enroll Victoria in preschool.
Victoria has one more year of preschool left. After seeing her enthusiasm in learning and hearing her teacher's positive comments about her determination at school, Marlene and Shawn have no doubt she will be ready for kindergarten! |
FTF Profiles
Meet Our Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Regional Council Chair
Virginia Loring
Virginia Loring serves as chair of the FTF Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Regional Partnership Council. She is also the owner of Pimara Construction and Pimara Business Resources. Virginia is an enrolled member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Virginia's company, Pimara Construction, has been involved with various projects on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, including Casino Arizona, the Salt River Fields and other commercial projects on the reservation. Pimara Construction is also involved in other projects on other Indian communities throughout the state of Arizona.
Virginia is the former President of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona, where she helped provide a format for American Indian entrepreneurs. She also has served as the Secretary for the Salt River Business Owners Association.
Virginia is active in the Community and has served in various leadership positions in her church. She feels that her greatest achievement was serving as a foster parent in her community.
Meet Our Northwest Maricopa Regional Director
Christina Lyons
Christina Lyons is the First Things First Director for the Northwest Maricopa region, which includes the communities of Aguila, Glendale, El Mirage, Morristown, Peoria, the Sun Cities, Surprise, Waddell, Wickenburg and Wittmann. In this role, Christina is responsible for the overall management of the Northwest Maricopa Regional Partnership Council. She is also responsible for coordinating with parents, community leaders, local, state, and federal government officials, private entities and faith-based groups to improve the quality of and access to early childhood development programs which effectively prepare children to start school healthy and ready to succeed.
Christina brings to FTF more than 15 years of experience in the public health sector. She has done extensive work in developing and managing award-winning public health programs aimed at improving health outcomes and changing public policy. Her work has taken her from Kotzebue, Alaska, where she worked as the Regional WIC Director for 11 Inupiat villages, to Coos County, Oregon, where she served rural coastal communities as the Manager of the County's Prevention Services and Community Health Promotion Programs.
Christina returned home to the Valley of the Sun to take on the position of Community Health Liaison for the City of Avondale's Healthy Avondale 2010 initiative, a position she held until joining FTF.
Christina has a bachelor's degree in Nutrition from Arizona University, a Master's degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate studying Organizational Leadership at the University of Phoenix.
Meet Our Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives
Dr. Ida Rose Florez
Dr. Ida Rose Florez is FTF's Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives. In this role, Ida Rose leads efforts to implement strategic innovations designed to advance Arizona's early childhood system. She currently leads Arizona's early childhood professional development system-building workgroup, oversees FTF organizational development initiatives, directs the annual Early Childhood Summit, and manages public-private partnership development. Ida Rose also provides technical assistance and expert consultation to the FTF executive team and Arizona Department of Education on early childhood assessment.
Ida Rose's professional background includes more than 20 years' experience as a school psychologist in early childhood educational and clinical settings. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Arizona, where she also completed requirements for a doctoral certificate in early childhood education.
Ida Rose developed and taught child development and early childhood assessment at both the U of A and Arizona State University. She has also served as clinical faculty at Penn State University, College of Medicine, where she was the consulting psychologist for the child inpatient and outpatient psychiatric units, and neurodevelopmental clinic.
Ida Rose loves to write and speak. Her work has been published in Young Children, Teacher's College Record, Language Policy, and Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education. She is a frequent speaker at local, regional and national conferences.
Ida Rose served as Vice President of Professional Development for the Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children. Before joining FTF, she was a member of the FTF Program and Policy state board advisory committee, and a member of the FTF South Phoenix Regional Partnership Council.
Originally from San Diego, Ida Rose has also lived in Pennsylvania and Hawaii. Her twin son and daughter will graduate from NAU and ASU, respectively, in May, and her youngest son, a student at Pima Community College, will attend NAU next fall. During the work week, Ida Rose makes her home in Phoenix and calls Tucson home on the weekends. She shares her life (and sailing whenever possible) with her husband, Rick, and their 6-year-old sheltie, Kulia.
Read more about your Regional Council Members. |
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4000 N Central Ave,
Ste 800
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602.771.5100
Fax: 602.274.6351
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