The first 2,000 days of a child’s life between birth and kindergarten are critical to development and their chances of lifelong health and well-being.
We’re Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development serving 140,000 children, families and professionals.
Our more than 800 caring and highly-qualified staff provide 40 early childhood programs and services to children, families and professionals in Arizona.
BIRTH TO FIVE HELPLINE™
Call 877-705-KIDS (5437) for Free Child Development Support
The Birth to Five Helpline is a free service open to all Arizona families with young children looking for the latest child development information from experts in the field. Professionals may also take advantage of this service.
Call the Helpline to speak with one of our bilingual (English/Spanish) early childhood specialists, on duty Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can also leave a voicemail, complete our online contact form (below), or text the Helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
NEWS
Safe & Fun Summer Play for Little Ones
Summer is all about sunshine, adventure, and making memories with your little ones! Whether you’re splashing in the pool, exploring the backyard, or heading to the park, it’s important to …
Supporting Young Children’s Mental Health: Tips for Positive Interaction
Children experience big emotions just like adults do, but they don’t always have the words to express them. For children experiencing emotional hurdles, navigating daily life can be even more overwhelming. …
Molly Strothkamp — A Steady Heart Behind Our Mental Health Work
For more than two decades, Molly Strothkamp has been a guiding light at Southwest Human Development. As Senior Program Manager for Mental Health Services in the Birth to Five Center …
Ariel’s Journey: Finding Joy and Independence at the Adapt Shop
Three-year-old Ariel has been a familiar face at Southwest Human Development’s Adapt Shop—visiting more than 13 times since she was just under a year old. When her mom, Angel, first …
The Power of Reading: Making Storytime Fun and Interactive
Reading with young children isn’t just about words on a page—it’s about building connections, sparking imagination, and laying the foundation for lifelong learning. From birth to age five, children’s brains are …
We’re here to help.
Our early childhood professionals are available to answer any questions you may have about young children ages 0-5 in the areas of child development, feeding, sleep, behavior and more.
Programs for Children & Families
Southwest Human Development offers more than 40 programs that support Arizona children and families with a special focus on ages 0-5.
Child Development and Mental Health
Supporting children’s early relationships and promoting healthy development.
Helping children enter school ready to learn through high-quality early childhood education programs.
Easterseals Disabilities Services
Providing comprehensive support, evaluation and intervention that best fits each child’s unique needs.
Family Support & Child Welfare
Offering families and caregivers support, counseling and resources critical to a child’s well-being.
The Martinez-Aguirre Family
“I see a difference between them and others not in the program. They’re learning basic skills like being the line leader or the door holder. Other kids don’t know their letters and numbers.”
Early Childhood Professional Development Opportunities
We offer a variety of nationally-recognized professional development opportunities for people who work with young children including Quality First Coaching and Assessment, Smart Support Mental Health Consultation, Birth to Five Helpline for Professionals, and Language and Learning Initiatives.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Join our email list and stay up to date on upcoming events, professional development trainings, news and more.
Helping Arizona Children & Families
With your support we can do even more