Southwest Human Development

STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATION ARIZONA'S CHILDREN NEED FOR A GREAT START IN LIFE.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING AND LITERACY: SOUTHWEST HUMAN DEVELOPMENT OFFERS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TO PROFESSIONALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN ACROSS ARIZONA, THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY. THE AGENCY IS COMMITTED TO TRAINING THAT IS INTERACTIVE AND APPLICABLE TO EVERYDAY WORK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. KEY ELEMENTS INCLUDE GROUP PARTICIPATION, DISCUSSION OF REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IDEAS LEARNED DURING THE TRAINING EXPERIENCE. CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE LANGUAGE AND LITERACY COMMUNITIES, QUALITY FIRST ASSESSMENT AND QUALITY COACHING / INCENTIVES. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE SERVED 459 EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS AND PERFORMED 2,395 CHILD CARE ASSESSMENTS. OUR EARLY COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY PROGRAMS HELP YOUNG CHILDREN BUILD THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL READERS NOW, WHILE LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LITERACY. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE SERVED 73,858 CHILDREN AND PARTNERED WITH 65 MEDICAL PRACTICES. ALSO CENTRAL TO THIS WORK IS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (PDI) AT EDUCARE ARIZONA, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 2018 WITH THE VISION TO ACT AS THE STATE'S LEADING EARLY LEARNING PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ENTITY. ITS GOAL IS TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TEACHER QUALITY AND PRACTICE, WHICH WILL LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN, INCLUDING PREPARATION FOR KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND. A CENTRALIZED INSTITUTE AT EDUCARE ARIZONA BRINGS ALL OF THE COMPONENTS NEEDED FOR HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO ONE PLACE ACTING AS A LIVING LABORATORY AND PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECT OBSERVATION OF HIGH-QUALITY TEACHING PRACTICES AND ENVIRONMENTS AND HANDS-ON LEARNING FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL TEACHER AND/OR DIRECTOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE PDI SERVED 181 CHILD CARE CENTERS AND TRAINED 321 EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS. INCLUDED IN THIS NUMBER ARE 41 PROFESSIONAL WHO EARNED THEIR CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL.

HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START: THE PROGRAMS WORK WITH INCOME-ELIGIBLE FAMILIES TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, DENTAL, NUTRITIONAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE RESOURCES. HEAD START PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL EDUCATION, ALONG WITH HEALTH SCREENINGS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PARENT TRAINING. EARLY HEAD START HELPS PARENTS WITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PARENTING AND LIFE SKILLS DURING THE PRENATAL PERIOD AND IN YEARS BEFORE THEIR BABY IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS HELP FAMILIES LEARN HOW TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN SUCCESS AND TO SUSTAIN THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING PROCESS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, SOUTHWEST HUMAN DEVELOPMENT'S PROGRAMS SERVED 1,242 CHILDREN AT ITS 19 SITES LOCATED AT THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS: BALSZ, CREIGHTON, OSBORN, AND PARADISE VALLEY.

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES AND CHILD WELFARE: SOUTHWEST HUMAN DEVELOPMENT OFFERS AN ARRAY OF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO HELP PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AS THEY RAISE THEIR CHILDREN. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL CAREGIVERS HAVE THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEIR PARENTING SKILLS, WHILE PROMOTING POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS, ENHANCING THEIR CHILD'S HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND INCREASING THEIR FAMILY'S ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTIONS STUDIES, HEALTHY FAMILIES, AND KINSHIP CARE AND ADOPTIONS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, THESE PROGRAMS SERVED 1,578 CHILDREN AND 3,426 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS.