Sedona AZ (February 1, 2014) – First Things First (FTF) is seeking applicants for the First Things First Yavapai Regional Partnership Council.

FTF regional council members are a crucial voice for kids ages birth to five throughout Arizona. In collaboration with communities, regional councils determine which early education, health and family support programs to fund to help more local children arrive at Kindergarten level prepared to succeed. The Yavapai Regional Partnership Council meets monthly and makes decisions for Yavapai County and all of Sedona. Each year, the Council is responsible for allocating more than $3.5 million to programs serving young children in this area.

Clint and Maria Slay read to their 4-month old daughter Liliana, one of the thousands of children participating in programs funded by the Yavapai Regional Partnership Council.

“If you want to go where the rubber meets the road, you need to be on the First Things First Yavapai Regional Partnership Council, being able to put the money where it makes the difference,” says Sara Lienau, a child care provider currently serving on the council.

“I have not experienced one person being on the council who has not only enjoyed it, but also felt like they were doing something worthwhile and helping to get a system into place that will benefit our young children,” says Anne Babinsky Rawlings, a retired educator also on the council.

If you reside and or work in Yavapai County or Sedona and are interested in serving on the First Things First Yavapai Regional Partnership Council, visit www.azftf.gov/serve to obtain an application.

For more information, call the First Things First Yavapai Regional Office at (928)-776-0062.

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