Reading proficiently by third grade is a critical milestone for Arizona’s children. Strengthening the quality of the state's early childhood system is a foundational step. A portion of the $8.4 million federal Preschool Development Grant will be used to help child care providers improve the quality of their care by joining the Quality First program. This one-year grant is only a stepping stone to a long term solution. “We’ve seen a big difference over the years. Now we’re seeing about 85% of our providers who are reaching those quality levels,” said Angela Rabago, First Things First Chief Early Childhood Systems Officer. Read more: 12news.com/article/news/inve…

Arizona ranks low on the list for the number of 4-year-olds attending preschool. Affordability is a large reason. First Things First Chief Early Childhood Systems Officer Angela Rabago spoke to ABC15 about the importance of a quality preschool experience. “We are only serving a fraction of the kids who need preschool services,” she said. “Nationally, when you look at where Arizona ranks, we’re way down.” Read more: abc15.com/news/education/sch…

First Things First funds a wide range of early childhood programs through voter-approved tobacco tax funds. Consumers migrating from traditional cigarettes to vaping and other nicotine products has caused a sharp decline in funding for those programs. FTF currently operates with about $80 million less in revenue annually than when it started almost 20 years ago. ”We’ve had to reduce the amount of programs that are funded," said Joe Barba, FTF Senior Director of Government Affairs. "That means less children being served." Closing the tax loophole would create sustainable funding to maintain essential early childhood programs. Read more: 12news.com/article/news/inve…

In State Fiscal Year 2025, engaging the business and economic development sector was a key factor in finding long-term solutions for the child care crisis—and early childhood in general. Throughout Arizona, over 15 chambers of commerce have adopted early childhood as a policy priority on their public policy agendas. That's a win we're continuing to build upon! For our economy, our communities, and babies, toddlers and preschoolers. See how First Things First is helping create a working future for Arizonans: FirstThingsFirst.org/busines…

We recently delivered a letter of support to Arizona’s legislators. It was signed by over 1,000 individuals, local governments, tribal nations, various elected officials, business owners and economic development groups. “Those signatures speak to the awareness that early childhood education programs and access to quality child care for working families are central to a healthy Arizona economy, as well as continued family stability,” said FTF Senior Director of Government Affairs Joe Barba. Read more: firstthingsfirst.org/2026/03…

Strength in Arizona’s workforce starts with early childhood. When children have access to quality early learning, they enter school ready to learn and are more likely to graduate and succeed in the workforce. Investing early strengthens families and helps Arizona reach the @EdForwardAZ Achieve60AZ goal. This seeks to have 60% of working-age adults hold a certificate, license or degree that will lead to greater economic and individual prosperity for our state.

Communication, problem-solving, collaboration—the seeds of these skills begin to develop in the early years of life. And without a solid foundation for success, it's much harder to develop later on. Research shows that graduation rates and economic success are intrinsically tied to early childhood. Arizona lacks support (both politically and financially) for early childhood, yet it's such a foundational time for growth. Employers, workforce and economic development leaders—you play an important role here. First Things First can help you create a family-friendly workplace: FirstThingsFirst.org/busines…

Working families across Arizona shared their experiences with us. Child care challenges are impacting parents’ ability to work, employers’ ability to hire and families’ ability to thrive. These results highlight what many already know: access to affordable, reliable child care isn’t just a family issue, it’s a workforce issue.

The booming economy has been great for Arizona, creating new jobs and opportunities for thousands for many years. One ongoing challenge? Access to affordable, quality child care and education. FTF CEO @melindagulick teamed with @TimRiester, co-chair of the Higher Education Task Force for Greater Phoenix Leadership and CEO of Riester Advertising Agency, to highlight these critical issues in the @phxbizjournal. Read more: bizjournals.com/phoenix/news…

The babies, toddlers and preschoolers of today become tomorrow's workforce—and the skills they need for lifelong success start now. Hear from staff across some of Arizona's family resource centers about how critical brain development is, and how we can continue to support young children and their families. It's a win-win for all of us.

Join Stand for Children Arizona for Request to Speak (RTS) training on Thursday, February 26 at 6 P.M. and learn how to share your voice with lawmakers—without leaving home. RTS is one of the most powerful tools we have to influence what happens at the Capitol. Participating in RTS can help HB 4032 close the vape tax loophole and generate $80 million for early childhood programs. Whether you’re brand new to RTS or just need a refresher, we’ll walk you through everything step by step so you feel confident and ready to take action—and we’ll even help set up and activate your account. RSVP today: bit.ly/4rAbWct

More than 300 people showed up today to advocate for crucial investments in Arizona's youngest residents, including childcare subsidies, closing the tobacco tax loophole, and establishing a child tax credit! @CAA_Arizona @ArizonaEarly @AZFTF

Read why @AZFTF CEO @melindagulick says the lack of access to reliable child care sits at the intersection of nearly every major policy challenge facing Arizona today and what can be done via @phxbizjournal goo.gl/alerts/jBW9U1

It was a wonderful turn out at Early Childhood Day at the Capitol! But the work doesn't stop there, we still need HB4032 to get heard! Please support HB4032 by using the Request To Speak system or contacting the committee chairs and vice-chairs. Learn how: bit.ly/3ZK1RgK

Arizona’s early childhood system is struggling—families can’t find affordable child care, and providers face shortages. HB4032 would modernize revenue structures and close the loophole on vapor and nicotine products vaping so AZ's youngest children continue to get the support they need. We need your help to get HB4032 a hearing! Take action today: bit.ly/3Ztx7R6

Join us in SUPPORT of HB4032! We must take action now for Arizona’s youngest learners. Help protect early childhood funding by supporting HB4032 on the Request To Speak (RTS) system. Sign in “FOR” HB4032 in RTS 🌐 Go to bit.ly/4afRPc2 🔎 Search for HB4032 – alternative nicotine; vapor products; tax. ✅ Select the bill and mark your position “For” 👍 to show your support. 💬 Add a brief comment about why protecting early childhood funding matters to you.

Listen to why our FTF CEO @melindagulick and @EdForwardAZ President and CEO @Rich_Nickel want you to come be a part of Early Childhood Day at the Capitol on Presidents' Day, Monday, February 16, 2026! Bring your family and friends. We hope to see you there! Register today: bit.ly/4brnM3q

If you're passionate about making a difference in the lives of young children, this might be for you—or you might know just who to share this with. First Things First regional partnership council members provide vision and leadership—making high-level decisions and working within their communities to help children from birth to age 5 enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.Each regional council has 11 volunteers recommending strategies to strengthen early childhood programs and services based on their community’s needs. Apply now: FirstThingsFirst.org/serve-a…

When young children have access to high-quality education and support, they're more likely to succeed later in life. Parents and caregivers need support to do the best they can. First Things First is Arizona's early childhood agency, committed to the healthy development and learning of young children from birth to age 5. Find child care solutions for businesses at: FirstThingsFirst.org/busines…

When Arizona's early childhood agency was created by voters nearly 20 years ago, tobacco tax revenue (the funding behind First Things First) generated $165 million a year. Now, revenue is around $90 million as fewer people use tobacco. First Things First Senior Director of Government Affairs, Joe Barba, explained to ABC15 that this could lead to cuts in child care scholarships, resources, staff and more. One solution: passing a bill that could tax vape and nicotine products, which didn't enter the market until after First Things First was created. Watch the clip from ABC15 and take action here: FirstThingsFirst.org/advocat…