Newsroom | Southwest Human Development

September 16, 2020

MAKERS is back! High school STEM challenge benefits young children with disabilities

Assistive technology solutions created to benefit young children with disabilities Southwest Human Development recently launched its annual MAKERS of Change Assistive Technology Challenge benefiting the organization’s services for young children with disabilities. Now in its third year, the MAKERS of Change Assistive Technology Challenge engages high school students to advance their STEM...

August 31, 2020

Sept. 21: Join Southwest Human Development for a virtual Election 2020 webinar with Secretary Hobbs

With the 2020 general election quickly approaching, it's important to understand why your vote matters and how to ensure your vote is counted. Southwest Human Development will be hosting a virtual webinar on Monday September 21, 2020 at 1 p.m. to provide an exclusive insider's look at voting in Arizona....

August 1, 2020

8 must-have resources for preschool and child care programs

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the preschool and child care industry throughout Arizona and across the country. Whether programs have temporarily closed or remained open, preschools and child care centers are facing numerous programmatic and financial challenges. At the onset of the crisis, Southwest Human Development immediately...

July 12, 2020

Helping children manage anxiety amid big changes

Whether it's staying home more often or starting a new school year, big changes can give children anxiety. In an interview with ABC15 Arizona, Dr. Alison Steier, director of Mental Health Services and the Harris Institute at Southwest Human Development, discussed helping children manage anxiety during big changes. Click the image...

July 8, 2020

Birth to Five Helpline specialists support parents, caregivers and professionals facing COVID-19 challenges

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, families are facing new and stressful challenges. Our Birth to Five Helpline specialists have been working hard to give parents, caregivers and professionals the guidance and support they need more than ever. Here are some of the common concerns that our Helpline specialists are hearing...

July 1, 2020

ZERO TO THREE publishes 2020 ‘State of Babies Yearbook,’ new Arizona report

ZERO TO THREE recently published its 2020 State of Babies Yearbook, which includes new data for Arizona. ZERO TO THREE's annual report compares "national and state-by-state data on the well-being of infants and toddlers." The yearly overview highlights the importance of policy building a foundation for babies' and toddlers' future...

June 20, 2020

How young is too young to start talking about race? Check out these resources and children’s books.

Southwest Human Development’s core values uphold the dignity and worth of each individual and the communities in which they live—a commitment that has never wavered. A pillar of these values is our promise to promote social justice through diversity, equity and inclusiveness. During this profound moment when we are seeing widespread...

June 19, 2020

A Time for Reflection and Change

During this profound moment when we are seeing widespread community activism and support to protect and defend diversity, equity and inclusion, we acknowledge the injustices that have been experienced by so many in our country for far too long. Today, June 19, marks Juneteenth in observance of the 1865 emancipation of...

June 14, 2020

‘Sesame Street’ addresses COVID-19, racism in town hall TV specials

Since 1969, "Sesame Street" has worked to be a positive, educational resource for young children. Guided by child development experts, the show often addresses topics like race, class, gender, religion and disabilities to teach children the values of diversity and inclusion. And when serious topics have made their way into...

June 2, 2020

Advancing equity in the early childhood workforce

ZERO TO THREE Fellows Natasha Byars (Southwest Human Development), Raquel Munarriz Diaz (Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida) and Sandipan Paul (UNICEF Pacific) collaborated on a ZERO TO THREE journal article focusing on advancing equity in the early childhood workforce, which was published in May 2020. The...