First Things First welcomes two new advocates

A state organization dedicated to helping Yuma County's youngest tribal residents has chosen two new advocates to serve on a regional chapter.

The First Things First Cocopah Tribe Regional Partnership Council recently welcomed two new members, both volunteers, who will help direct spending of the voter-approved funds set aside for the early education and health services to help the Cocopah Tribe children.

The council announced the addition in a news release Friday.

The Rev. Deal Begay, father of a 2-year-old son, represents a parent's perspective. Meanwhile LaDonna Crabb-Stillings, a member at-large on the regional council, has firsthand experience with children's school preparedness as an elementary school teacher in Somerton, according to the release.

The new members will complete their orientation Monday. Paul Soto and Gina Nierenhausen were reappointed to the council and along with Begay and Crabb-Stillings will serve four-year-terms that began July 1.

This is the first time the regional council will have community parents represented, said Jill McCormick, cultural resources manager for the Cocopah Indian Tribe, in the news release.

First Things First was created by Arizona voters in 2006 and funded from sales of tobacco products. The organization has 31 regional councils throughout the state, each with 11 members, and works to help children from birth to age 5.

According to the release, the regional councils have direct responsibility to “collect information on the strengths and desires of their community; prioritize the specific needs of children from birth through age five; plan how to address those needs; choose who to partner and collaborate with to ensure success for the children in their area; and make funding decisions necessary to carry out their plan.”

Regional council members also participate in “community outreach to educate community leaders, public policy makers and the general public about First Things First and the importance of investing in early childhood,” according to the release.

Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.