First Things First was established to help provide greater opportunities for all children five and under in Arizona to grow up ready to succeed. Their mission is “to increase the quality of, and access to, the early childhood development and health system that ensures a child entering school comes healthy and ready to succeed” (First Things First Website). The First Things First Emergency Child Care Scholarships were created in April 2009 as a temporary plan to financially help families with young children birth through age 5 with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. This response stemmed from a worsening decline in access to child care by families in this economic crisis. The Emergency Child Care Scholarships have helped many families in Arizona who were unable to afford the costs of early care and education for their children as a result of job loss, decreased earnings or other factors. The scholarships were designed to promote the continuity of care, which is one of the most important factors in the healthy development of young children (First Things First website).

The high cost of early care and education is one of the most difficult obstacles to obtaining and maintaining employment for many low-income single-parent families. Without access to quality care, working families are forced to decide whether to quit their jobs or leave children in the care that is not their primary choice. Families with incomes less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPL) may lack the resources necessary to place children with providers offering quality early care and education.  Quality child care is costly due to factors such as low staff to child ratios, small group sizes, employment of experienced professionals with early education degrees, higher wages to pay for education and experience, and early learning environments and curricula designed to maximize the social and developmental needs of children.  Scholarships support families who are employed, seeking employment or who are improving their skills by participating in training or education to better compete in the market place and who wish to give their children an educational boost.