First Things First partners with families and communities to help our state’s youngest children prepare for kindergarten and beyond.
Many young children in Arizona face challenges that threaten their healthy development and learning. In the San Carlos Apache Region, there are 1,435 children (under age 6) with 56% living in poverty.
Here is how FTF is working to support young children and their families in this region.
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“It is important that our children are invested in from birth to help with their overall development. Early education should be a major priority. It will have a positive impact on our community and strengthen it for future generations.” Jaymie Swift Hooke |
San Carlos Apache Regional Key Impact Highlights
[Fiscal Year 2020]
7,706 Books got into the homes of infants, toddlers and preschoolers through a local distribution program.
129 Adult caregivers attended classes on the importance of nutrition and physical activity for the healthy development of young children.
297 Children attended preschools and child care programs participating in Quality First.
5 Early childhood educators received college scholarships to improve their qualifications for working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
253 Children monitored to receive appropriate screenings to detect vision, hearing and developmental issues to prevent learning challenges later on.
245 Adults attended parenting activities to learn about early child care development in a fun setting.
San Carlos Apache Family Story
Developmental screening helps San Carlos boy get support to speak clearly
Anntonia Cutter was concerned that her 3-year-old son, Johnathan wasn’t speaking clearly yet. They had just moved to San Carlos, and Cutter wanted to make sure Johnathan had a strong start in the community.
“He used to get so frustrated when trying to communicate with us, because we couldn’t understand him,” Cutter said.
She was discouraged and wasn’t sure how to get help. She called the First Things First Globe Regional office and was referred to the FTF San Carlos Apache Regional Partnership Council, which funds the Developmental and Sensory Screening program.
Read moreFTF San Carlos Apache Regional Partnership Council
SFY20 Total Regional Program Expenditures
The FTF San Carlos Apache Regional Partnership Council is made up of volunteers who study the unique needs of the local community and decide how funds should be used to best support the healthy development and early learning of young children birth to age 5. FTF invests in proven programs and innovative strategies through grants to community organizations that provide services to children and families. Some of the programs in this region include Grow It, Try It, Like It!, developmental and sensory screenings and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
| Preventive Health | $199,587 | 32% |
| Strengthening Families | $153,365 | 25% |
| Parent and Community Awareness | $98,695 | 16% |
| Quality Child Care and Preschool | $96,853 | 15% |
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Workforce Development and Training |
$41,860 | 7% |
| Research and Evaluation | $18,614 | 4% |
| Coordinating Care | $735 | 1% |
| TOTAL |
$609,709 |
The boundaries of the FTF San Carlos Apache Region are defined to be those of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. The region covers almost 3,000 square miles in east-central Arizona. Most of the region lies within Gila and Graham counties, although there is a small, uninhabited section in Pinal County. The reservation, which was established in 1871, is divided into four districts: Seven Mile Wash, Gilson Wash, Peridot and Bylas. The FTF San Carlos Apache Region includes Legislative District 7. (Legislative districts are not necessarily congruent with regional boundaries.)