First Things First Yuma advocates for early learning, family support
Since most of a child’s brain is formed by the age of 5, First Things First (FTF) Yuma Regional Director Rudy Ortiz noted the importance of family support when it comes to early childhood development.
“A lot of the time we think a child’s first five years are just really cute years,” Ortiz said. “With 90 percent of brain development happening within the first five years, it is the foundation of what our economy will look like tomorrow, what our high school graduation (rate) will look like tomorrow and on the reverse, what our prisons will look like tomorrow. We have an opportunity to change that trajectory today.”
Ortiz added that while someone who does not have a healthy environment during their first five years can still change and grow in a positive way, it is harder to do so than if the child is exposed to a healthy lifestyle during their early years. He says that it is important to work on executive functions during the first five years of life.
According to Understood.org, an online digital resource for parents whose children have learning and attention issues, executive function refers to the brain’s ability to plan, organize and complete tasks.
Following the passing of a voter initiative in November 2006, FTF Yuma advocates for early childhood learning by reaching out to communities and partners as part of the statewide organization.
The initiative provides funds for early childhood development and health across the state, said FTF Yuma Parent Awareness and Community Outreach Coordinator Nena Garcia during the tour. A large chunk of the funds is to go into early childhood preschool programs as well as family support programs.
On Thursday, professionals from various businesses and organizations came together to learn about the agency during the FTF Yuma and Easter Seals Blake Foundation home visitation strategy site tour at 3860 W. 24th Street.
“One of the ways we invest our dollars from a council is in a strategy called home visitation where teachers, counselors, social workers can meet the family where they are at and find ways to break that cycle of poverty by increasing parenting skills and improving the outcomes for that child.”
In total, Ortiz said FTF Yuma receives between about $5.5-$6 million to invest in the community. Out of those funds, he said over $1 million is invested in home visitation programs, such as the Easter Seals Blake Foundation, Yuma Parents as Teachers Program and the Child and Family Resources Inc. Healthy Families program.
He added that there are close to 18,000 children living in Yuma County between ages 0 and 5 and out of those children, around 6,000 are living in extreme poverty.
“Harvard University says that for any child to be successful, they need one adult who believes in them, who loves them but also knows how to be a strong citizen in their community,” Ortiz said. “What a strong citizen means is to be engaged, to be involved, to know about the community programs that are out there.”
Mary Beth Turner, chair of the FTF Yuma Regional Partnership Council, said the home visitation support is for families expecting children or have children between the ages 0-5. Many times the children come from “familial environmental factors that may adversely impact the healthy development of the child,” she said.
The program serves to help build parent children relationships, maintain a child’s health and help a child with school readiness. Nidia Garcia, who supervises the home visitation program at the Easter Seals Blake Foundation, noted that the program also provides screenings and assessments to identify possible health concerns. Additionally, the program provides resources so that families can become self-sufficient.
“This work can only be accomplished by highly qualified professionals with the education, experience and the passion to serve others,” she said.