Betty Mosher enrolled in the Family, Friend and Neighbor program when her granddaughter Jada was 1.
A friend told Mosher about the program that empowers caregivers with tools to encourage healthy development in the children in their care. The friend was participating for her own children and the children she cared for.
The First Things First Pinal Regional Partnership Council funds the program through the United Way of Pinal County. The program provides in-home child care providers with no-cost assistance to help ensure young children get access to quality education outside of a licensed child care setting.
Mosher attended an introductory meeting and thought, “Wow.”
“The meeting was very educational,” she said and knew she wanted to be part of the program that supports in-home child care providers with no-cost assistance to help ensure young children get access to quality education outside of a licensed child care setting.
“I have learned patience and not trying to force a certain way of learning,” Mosher said. “We sometimes need to let the children teach us. I have also learned that all children learn differently, at different levels, and at a different pace.”
Mosher credits the FFN program for her in-home children’s library. She has over 200 books and puzzles for her grandchildren.
Within her first year in the program, Mosher had dedicated a space in her living room for her grandchildren’s books. Today, she has over 200 books and puzzles for them. She also created an in-home classroom, which a Family, Friend and Neighbor specialist described as a safe learning space for the grandchildren and a commitment level to the program, which also brings success.
Jada, who is currently in kindergarten, is thriving and excelling academically and socially. She is receiving 100% on her test scores and her teacher reports are all positive.
“The early years are very important in a child’s life,” Mosher said. “Their brains are like a sponge. They watch everything you do and they learn so quickly. The more you are involved before 5 years old, the better.”
