System Partners
Join us on zoom for this lively showcase to discover what programs are available and how to access them.
Date:
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Time:
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Who’s Invited?
All Arizona early childhood educators in regulated settings, including:
- Directors & administrators
- Teachers & classroom staff
- Family child care providers
- Coaches, consultants & technical assistance professionals
Session details by content track:
Health, safety & nutrition
Social emotional support services
Early childhood business supports
Session Description:
The Empower program helps support licensed ECE programs’ efforts to empower young children to grow up healthy through a series of nutrition, health, and physical activity standards.
Go NAPSACC offers providers a robust, customizable tool to assess and plan improvements aligned with Empower goals in child nutrition, breastfeeding, and physical activity.
Presenter Name: Adri Koslan
Session Description:
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) will provide an overview of the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) administered by Health and Nutrition Services. The session will cover CACFP basics including program benefits, eligible settings, and how participation supports early care and education environments. We will also highlight ADE resources and technical assistance available to help ECE providers get started.
Presenter Names: Paige Bethke and Melissa Rose
Session Description:
Smart Support is an evidence-based intervention that partners mental health professionals with early care and education providers, home visitors, and other staff as well as families, programs, and systems to build their capacity to support young children’s social and emotional development and prevent or address behavioral and mental health challenges. It is a collaborative problem-solving approach that is both effective and efficient because it allows consultants to influence consultees’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices that affect multiple children and families. This is a free service available to most early care and education programs in Arizona.
Presenter Names: Jeanette Manley
Session Description:
This session will highlight the negative impact of suspension and expulsion on young children’s social-emotional development, relationships, and long-term school success. Participants will receive an overview of the AZSTEPS Expulsion Prevention Program, which supports child care providers and families serving children from birth to age 12. The session explains how to request free support, including consultation, classroom strategies, training, and technical assistance. Attendees will also learn how to access professional development opportunities and on-site classroom support to promote inclusion and prevent expulsion in early learning settings.
Presenter Names: Anna Marie Sepulveda, Cindy Matcha
Session Description:
The Pyramid Model is an evidence-based framework that helps early childhood educators promote social-emotional development and prevent challenging behaviors using a tiered approach. This session will offer a brief introduction to the Pyramid Model, including free statewide resources and available training.
Presenter Names: Patsy Rethore-Larson, Priscilla Sachs
Session Description: This session will explain how Early Childhood Business Solutions (ECBS) supports providers through coaching, training and resources like AZToolkit and child care management systems. We’ll share how these services improve sustainability and compliance, followed by an interactive Q&A to answer your questions. Providers should join us to learn how ECBS can help their businesses thrive and better serve children and families across Arizona.
Presenter Names: Megan Baciao, Tiffany Corona, Laura Campbell, Tracy Price
Session Description:
This session introduces AZToolkit, an online resource that supports Arizona’s early childhood workforce with tools, guidance, and connections to quality improvement and professional development supports. Participants will learn how AZToolkit helps programs navigate quality systems, strengthen practice, and access technical assistance. The session will clarify eligibility, including free access for DES-contracted providers and programs participating in Southwest Human Development’s Early Childhood Business Solutions. Attendees will explore key toolkit sections, practical use examples, and have time for questions and direct support.
Presenter Names: Dr. Felicia Durden and Darcy Heath
Session Description:
This session will provide an overview of new business and certification support program as well as a mini-grant opportunity. This program is limited to home-based child care providers only.
Presenter Names: Cynthia Melde
Developmental needs & learning supports
Family engagement
Early childhood supportive services
Session Description:
The Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) is Arizona’s statewide interagency system of services and supports for families of infants and toddlers, birth through two years of age, with disabilities or delays. AzEIP is established by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides eligible children and their families access to services to enhance the capacity of families and caregivers to support the child’s development. The AzEIP service-providing agencies provide services with no out-of-pocket cost for families. Anyone can make a referral to apply for the program if a child under age 3 is suspected of having a significant developmental delay or disability.
Presenter Name: Lisa Vallee
Session Description:
DDD is the state agency providing supports and services to individuals with autism, Down Syndrome, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and intellectual/cognitive disabilities. This session will review eligibility, the application process, and services provided.
Presenter Name: Micky Barnhart
Session Description:
Learn how the AZECE Professional Development Collaborative is partnering to expand professional learning opportunities for Arizona’s early childhood workforce. Attendees will gain an overview of the free iECHO training opportunities designed to support early childhood professionals in essential areas such as social-emotional learning, science and math exploration, and language and literacy development and so much more. Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of how to access these professional development opportunities.
Presenter Name: Bjorg Lesueur
Session Description:
Learn about Southwest Human Development’s Birth to Five Helpline, a free resource for anyone who has questions or concerns about young children including parents, grandparents, caregivers and early childhood professionals. We will offer an overview of the program and discuss ways we can collaborate on behalf of families and in support of each other as professionals.
Presenter Name: Maria Lopez
Session Description:
This session will provide an introduction to Family Resource Centers (FRCs) and demonstrate how these free, community-based programs can strengthen the support systems available to children and families. Participants will learn what FRCs offer, including parent education, developmental resources, basic-needs supports, and family engagement opportunities, as well as how educators can easily connect families to these services. The session will include a brief overview of statewide FRC models, practical examples of how educators have partnered with FRCs, and website tools for sharing FRC information with families. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how FRCs can enhance family well-being and complement the work happening in early learning environments.
Presenter Name: Mollie Bailey
Session Description:
This session provides an overview of First Things First parenting content and tools you can use and share. We’ll highlight the new AZ Parent Guide, recent parenting blog content and the Find Programs tool to help families connect with services in their community. We’ll also explore available social media content for partners interested in sharing through their own channels, plus printable and downloadable resources, including Ages and Stages materials and the Quality Child Care checklist.
Presenter Names: Haley Wagner and Julia Rodriguez
Session Description:
This session will provide an overview of Quality First. Participants will learn how Quality First helps early care and education providers to improve the quality of their programs through assessment, rating and a free system of support. Participants will learn about the Rating Only pathway to participation and the benefits of earning a rating.
Presenter names: Heidi Walton and Madison Anderson
Session Description:
This session will introduce families, providers, and community partners to Child Care Resource & Referral services. Participants will learn how CCR&R supports families in finding quality child care, understanding child care options, and accessing financial assistance and community resources. The session will also highlight how providers and partners can connect with CCR&R for referrals, professional development, and ongoing support. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of available resources and how to access them.
Presenter Names: Yadel Liese, Kassandra Bustos, Jessica Morehead
Session Description:
Professionals working with ages 5–12—get ready for a lively, interactive crash course in how AzCASE can make your afterschool program smoother, calmer, and more joyful with tips, resources, training, and quality standards built just for school-age programs!
Presenter Name: Jessica Flowers
Sesiones en español
Descripción de la sesión:
Esta sesión explicará cómo Early Childhood Business Solutions (ECBS) apoya a los proveedores a través de asesoramiento, capacitación y recursos como AZToolkit y sistemas de gestión de cuidado infantil. Compartiremos cómo estos servicios mejoran la sostenibilidad y el cumplimiento, seguido de una sesión interactiva de preguntas y respuestas para atender sus dudas. Invitamos a los proveedores a unirse a nosotros para aprender cómo ECBS puede ayudar a que sus negocios prosperen y brinden un mejor servicio a los niños y las familias en todo Arizona.
Descripción de la sesión:
Esta sesión presentará a las familias, proveedores y socios comunitarios los servicios de Recursos e Información para el Cuidado Infantil (CCR&R). Los participantes aprenderán cómo CCR&R apoya a las familias en la búsqueda de cuidado infantil de calidad, la comprensión de las opciones de cuidado infantil y el acceso a asistencia financiera y recursos comunitarios. La sesión también destacará cómo los proveedores y socios pueden conectarse con CCR&R para obtener referencias, desarrollo profesional y apoyo continuo. Los asistentes saldrán con una comprensión clara de los recursos disponibles y cómo acceder a ellos.
Descripción de la sesión:
Esta sesión destacará el impacto negativo de la suspensión y expulsión en el desarrollo socioemocional de los niños pequeños, sus relaciones interpersonales y su éxito escolar a largo plazo. Los participantes recibirán una descripción general del Programa de Prevención de Expulsiones AZSTEPS, el cual apoya a los proveedores de cuidado infantil y a las familias que atienden a niños desde el nacimiento hasta los 12 años. La sesión explicará cómo solicitar apoyo gratuito, que incluye asesoramiento, estrategias para el aula, capacitación y asistencia técnica. Los asistentes también aprenderán cómo acceder a oportunidades de desarrollo profesional y apoyo en el aula para promover la inclusión y prevenir la expulsión en entornos de educación infantil.
Presentadora: Madeline Hernandez
Descripción de la sesión:
Esta sesión ofrecerá una descripción general del nuevo programa de apoyo para negocios y certificación, así como una oportunidad de obtener una pequeña subvención. Este programa está dirigido exclusivamente a proveedores de cuidado infantil en el hogar.
Descripción de la sesión:
DDD es la agencia estatal que brinda apoyo y servicios a personas con autismo, síndrome de Down, epilepsia, parálisis cerebral y discapacidades intelectuales o cognitivas. En esta sesión se revisarán los requisitos de elegibilidad, el proceso de solicitud y los servicios que se ofrecen.
Descripción de la sesión:
Smart Support es una intervención basada en evidencia que conecta a profesionales de la salud mental con proveedores de atención y educación infantil, visitadores domiciliarios y otros miembros del personal, así como con familias, programas y sistemas, para fortalecer su capacidad de apoyar el desarrollo socioemocional de los niños pequeños y prevenir o abordar los problemas de comportamiento y salud mental. Se trata de un enfoque colaborativo para la resolución de problemas que es eficaz y eficiente, ya que permite a los consultores influir en los conocimientos, actitudes, creencias y prácticas de quienes reciben la consulta, lo que beneficia a múltiples niños y familias. Este servicio es gratuito y está disponible para la mayoría de los programas de atención y educación infantil en Arizona.
Presentadora: Fritzie Enriquez
System Partners
Child Care Resource & Referral
The Arizona Child Care Resource and Referral provides assistance to families seeking child care and to child care providers.
State of Arizona Resources & Programs
State of Arizona Government Agencies that provide assistance, resources, guidelines, and information relating to child care and providers of child care.
- Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Child Care
- Arizona Department of Education, Early Childhood Unit
- Arizona Department of Education Early Learning Standards
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Child Care Licensing
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health
- Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP)
- Arizona’s Infant and Toddler Developmental Guidelines
- AZ FIND
- AZ Transfer
- Department of Child Safety
- First Things First
- Infant Toddler Mental Health Coalition of Arizona
- New Directions Institute
- Quality First
- Read On Arizona
State & National Professional Organizations
Find and join organizations that offer guidance, resources, and support for early childhood professionals.
Arizona
National
- Alliance for Family, Friend and Neighbor Child Care (AFFNCC)
- Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)
- Families and Work Institute
- National Afterschool Association (NAA)
- National Association for Child Care Professionals (NACCP)
- National Association for Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA)
- National Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)
- National Network for Child Care
- National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
- National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
- National Center for Early Development & Learning (NCEDL)
- National Child Care Association
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
- National Education Association (NEA)
- National Head Start Association (NHSA)
- National Professional Development Center on Inclusion (NPDCI)
Arizona Community-Based Resources & Programs
Local organizations that provide information, assistance, and support to their local communities.
Other Resources
Additional resources such as Better Brains for Babies, Build Initiative, Center for the Developing Child, Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, Child Care Exchange, and more.
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- ASD Toddler Initiative
- Better Brains for Babies
- Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!
- Build Initiative – Arizona
- The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE)
- Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL)
- The Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy)
- Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR)
- The Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO)
- Center on the Developing Child
- Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
- Child Care & Early Education Research Connections
- Child Care Exchange
- Collaborative for Children
- Consortium of State IDEA 619 Coordinators
- Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
- Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center
- Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC)
- Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
- Early Educator Central (for Infant/Toddler Professionals)
- Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI), (CDC)
- Early Learning Challenge Technical Assistance (ELCTA)
- Families and Work Institute
- Head Start
- The IDEA Data Center (IDC)
- IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA)
- Learn the Signs. Act Early. (CDC)
- National Academy of Sciences
- The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
- National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
- National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
- National Center on Family Literacy (NCFL)
- National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI)
- National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education (NCRECE)
- National Child Care Information Center
- National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
- Pinnacle Presbyterian Preschool’s Inspire Training Series
- Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention (TACSEI) for Young Children
- The Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC)
- Zero To Three