What is the Arizona Institute for Early Childhood Development?
 

The Arizona Institute for Early Childhood Development, operated by Southwest Human Development, Arizona's largest provider of services for young children and families, provides specialized programs and services for families, focusing on the early development of children from newborn to five years old. The Institute, recognized for its unparalleled expertise in the early childhood development field, is dedicated to expanding research-based early childhood development programs that positively impact thousands of high-risk children. The Institute focuses on three core areas and consists of three Centers of Excellence in early literacy, infant mental health and Arizona’s first statewide Birth to Five Helpline.

What are the functions of the Early Literacy Center?
 

The Early Literacy Center helps young children build the skills they need to become successful readers now, while laying the foundation for lifelong literacy. The Center operates Reach Out and Read (ROR), a national program introduced to Arizona in 1997 by Southwest Human Development, to help fight illiteracy in impoverished communities. The Center also works to create libraries and literacy centers in child care facilities that cannot afford books. Since its inception in 2005, the program’s goal is to create libraries in 500 child care centers serving low-income areas in Maricopa County. Critically, child care teachers receive training in how to promote early literacy skills in young children and how to help parents develop these skills at home.

What is the Infant Mental Health Center ?
 

The Infant Mental Health Center promotes optimal development in infants, toddlers and preschoolers by using the latest early childhood and brain development research to create high quality counseling, education and training programs. By fully launching two successful programs—the Good Fit infant mental health clinic and the Harris professional training program—the Infant Mental Health Center is on the cutting edge of this internationally growing field.

The Good Fit Counseling Center offers emotional and behavioral health services to infants, toddlers and preschoolers facing a wide range of challenges, including problems with sleeping or eating, aggression, fussiness or excessive crying, bonding and attachment or the affects of trauma such as abuse and neglect.

The Harris Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Training Institute, operated in collaboration with Arizona State University’s School of Social and Family Dynamics, provides training programs with a multi-disciplinary approach to prevention and intervention work with children during the first years of life.

How does the Birth to Five Helpline operate?

The Institute launched Arizona’s first and only toll-free question line for parents and caregivers with children under age five, called the Birth to Five Helpline (1-877-705-KIDS). The Helpline is a free resource for both caregivers and professionals to receive telephone consultations, referral information and individualized child development information. Staff is comprised of experts in the field, including registered nurses, disabilities specialists, early literacy specialists, and mental health counselors, who are prepared to answer critical questions about children. Topics include health, nutrition, sleep, discipline, safety, learning to read, and school readiness, among other areas.

How long has the Arizona Institute been operating?

The Arizona Institute for Early Childhood Development was created in 2004 under Southwest Human Development, founded in 1981, to expand best practice and research-based early development programs to help children reach their full potential. As the state’s largest community-based organization of its type, Southwest Human Development and its programs serve more than 50,000 children and families each year.

How is the Arizona Institute funded?
 
Institute programs rely almost exclusively on private donations. The organization is continually seeking funding to continue efforts to help improve the lives of Arizona’s children.

How may staff/employees does the Arizona Institute employ?
 
The Institute has more than 550 individuals available as resources, including early childhood development specialists, registered nurses, disabilities specialists, early literacy specialists, and mental health counselors.

How is the Arizona Institute different from other non-profit child welfare organizations?

The Institute is unique in its focus on promoting the healthy development of children in their earliest years – from newborn to five years old. The organization works to help strengthen families and prevent problems before they begin, or to intervene as early and effectively as possible where problems already exist.

How can someone receive more information?
More information about the Institute can be found here, or by calling (602) 266-5976. An Arizona Institute-specific Web site is under development.

Are there fees for the Arizona Institute's services?
 

Many of the Institute’s programs are offered at no cost to families. Programs that do charge for services offer a sliding fee scale.

How can someone contribute to the Arizona Institute for Early Childhood Development?

Financial contributions and in-kind donations are always greatly appreciated, as it’s an opportunity to invest in the community and improve childhood development. The Institute is also in need of volunteers. For more information on how to become involved, please visit our How You Can Help page.

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