The American Rescue Plan, proposed by President Biden and passed by Congress this March, included a historic increase in the federal Child Tax Credit that is projected to reduce the child poverty rate in America by as much as 50 percent. The expanded Child Tax Credit will provide crucial financial...
Southwest Human Development is pleased to announce the election of Julie Shaw as the agency's new board chair and the election of four new members to its Board of Directors. Southwest Human Development's Board of Directors has elected Julie Shaw as its 2021-2023 chair. Shaw has served as a board member...
Prizes include an all-new 2021 Toyota Venza, $1,000 cash and more Southwest Human Development launched its inaugural “Dream Big, Move Fast” car raffle to support its many early childhood programs and services that serve more than 140,000 Arizona children, their families and professionals each year. Presented by Valley Toyota Dealers and CENTURY...
Parenting is hard. For many parents, the prolonged COVID-19 crisis has made it even harder. Parents have been stretched thin and worrying about finances, their family’s health and their children’s care and development. Children have been impacted too, as the pandemic's far-reaching effects have disrupted their daily life and development. With...
Like many of our programs, Southwest Human Development’s Raising A Reader had to adapt to the COVID-19 health crisis. Raising A Reader is an early literacy program designed to educate parents about the importance of early literacy skills and how they can build these skills in their young children to...
In April, ZERO TO THREE published its annual State of Babies Yearbook, which provides nationwide and state-by-state data on the well-being of infants and toddlers. ZERO TO THREE ensured that the data collected for the 2021 Yearbook reflected the widespread effects of the coronavirus pandemic on babies and their families. While the...
National Volunteer Week is April 18-24 this year. We at Southwest Human Development are proud to recognize the contributions of all the volunteers who support us. Whether it be the individuals who deliver books to pediatrician clinics for our Reach Out and Read Program, corporate groups that build Reading Buddies...
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, raising awareness of the importance of resources and services to help families and communities work together to prevent child abuse and neglect. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, "The single most important thing we can do is support families all year long...
Nearly two out of every three children in low-income communities don’t own a single children’s book, a fact that ultimately could have profound impacts even before entering kindergarten. “Research shows that all children benefit from a high-quality early childhood education experience, and that quality early education is especially important for children...
Every May, Southwest Human Development's Grow A Reader Virtual Book Drive helps provide books to young children in low-income Arizona communities. For companies and community volunteer organizations, Grow A Reader is an opportunity to support a charitable initiative and have fun while you're doing it! With many people still working...