2021 ANNUAL REPORT
T O F I R S T 3 Y E A R S S TA K E H O L D E R S 2021 was a year of transition and that is no understatement! The pandemic continued to reshape the way we did business, but also the way people viewed their own personal journey. As people reflected on their current roles at work and at home, many were inspired to shift their trajectory. First3Years felt the impacts of this monumental trend as we transitioned through the loss of our CEO and several staff members. To bring this self-reflection trend full circle, First3Years also saw talented new staff hired to fill these vacancies and the addition of two new staff members through two new positions, our Community System Coordinator and Family Leadership Coordinator, both in Houston. We also saw the transition of several board members in 2021; a passing of the torch as we helped veteran board members roll off and welcomed and acclimated new board members into their roles. To add to this list of transitions, there was the global shift to the virtual world. While we had transitioned some programs and events to a virtual platform in 2020, we continued to implement this new format into our Baby Day and Build Up! Conference for the first time. We’ve since analyzed participation data and learned that a hybrid model allows us to expand our reach and offer flexibility through virtual platforms, while intimately engaging stakeholders through our in-person opportunities. First3Years has a knowledgeable and dedicated staff that saw us through the many and sometimes challenging transitions that we faced in 2021. These transitions taught us valuable lessons that we’ll continue to build upon to strengthen our organization and advance our work to improve the lives of infants, toddlers, caregivers, and their communities. Thank you for encouraging us through this year of transitions and continuing to support the mission and the work of First3Years! Your belief in our ability to persevere and grow gives us the strength and support we need to successfully navigate any transition that may come along. We hope you continue to stand by us as we forge ahead on this exciting journey. Sincerely,
Kallie Benes Chief Executive Officer
First3Years’ mission is personal to me and my family--as biological parents, parents of foster children, and adoptive parents of children from the foster care system, we can attest to the importance of providing infants and toddlers with the support they need to thrive. We also know first-hand the effects on the children when neglect and trauma is experienced at an early age. I think we all can agree that experiences we go through in our youth shapes us as adults, but what isn’t as widely known is to what extent. A child’s negative experience as a newborn sends them on an unnecessarily challenging trajectory that can be reinforced as a baby and toddler if that child’s caregiver is unaware of what to look for or how to care for. Many children, not just those in the foster care system, are prone to this. Being unaware of just how impressionable children are, especially in the first three years of life, is a mistake that is too easily made. That’s why I’m thankful to be a part of First3Years and can support their work in providing caregivers with the knowledge and help needed to care for our little ones. Sincerely,
Benjie Esguerra Board President
COMMUNITY SYSTEMS BABIES IN BAYTOWN
HOUSTON INFANT TODDLER COALITION
This collaboration among community organizations and families of Baytown works to develop community solutions that better support the mental health of young children and their families.
Houston Infant Toddler Coalition strives to fill a critical gap in systems-building work to advance the well-being of infants and toddlers within Harris County. This coalition engages organizational stakeholders from the early learning, family engagement, education and health sectors that work with or on behalf of infants, toddlers, and their families.
Distributed over $5,000 in ready-to-drink formula and baby products directly to parents reaching over 200 families when Winter Storm Uri devastated power and water supplies..
BRIGHT BY TEXT Through a continued partnership with Bright by Text, First3Years brings this innovative program to families within Harris County. Bright by Text sends free activities, games, and local resources right to the cell phones of expectant parents and caregivers of children ages 0-8. Bright by Text is designed to promote both parent/caregiver knowledge and resilience as well as healthy child behavior and development.
Since launching in 2020, 744 parents and caregivers have signed up for Bright by Text and have received over 200 community messages with developmentally supportive information about local events and resources
Launched place-based family leadership groups for engaging and activating parents in making change for themselves, their young child, and their community.
RELATIONAL HEALTH Our Relational Health Program aims to enhance the internal capacity of partner organizations to offer families the support that they need to strengthen their emotional connection with their infant or toddler. In doing so, First3Years trains and assists professionals on how to leverage Early Relational Health Screening tools to promote relational health between caregivers and young children. • Provided over 18 hours of training and over 30 hours of coaching to professionals on how to leverage early relational health screening and messaging tools to promote relational health among the families they serve. • In partnership with the Texas Pediatric Society, trained over 40 medical providers who impact over 20,000 infants and toddlers annually.
KEY PROGRAMS BABY DAY
SAFE BABIES
Baby Day is the only statewide celebration of the first three years of life, when early experiences shape lifelong potential. Held annually across the state, Baby Day provides children and their caregivers an opportunity to participate in activities that promote bonding and delight.
Our Safe Babies program uses a collaborative approach to transform the experience of infants and toddlers in the child welfare system from traumatic to healing. This is accomplished by supporting the crucial attachment needs of young children while assisting birth and foster parents in working together during visitations.
• 4,161 adults and children registered to join us in 117 cities across Texas and beyond for Baby Day 2022.
• 48 families were served in Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant County including 60 children 0-3 and 29 siblings over 3.
• Attendees enjoyed over 100 live and on-demand sessions from nearly 40 partners who contributed over 300 volunteer hours to create these sessions.
• 27 cases across all counties were closed resulting in 89% of cases ending in family- determined outcomes.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Our aim is to empower a community that is prepared to care for and nurture children. We work to ensure that all caregivers and engaged stakeholder systems are provided with access to current applied research and best practices. We equip early childhood professionals with effective tools and strategies to improve programming for the population they serve.
• 253,000+ children were impacted by First3Years by 2,025 unduplicated trained professionals. *Due to more efficient data capture, we have been able to more accurately account for participant data over previous years.
• 99% of individuals marked that training met or exceeded expectations
ENDORSEMENT Endorsement is an internationally recognized credential that supports and recognizes the development and proficiency of professionals who work with or on behalf of infants, toddlers, and their families. This process is based upon a comprehensive set of competencies that help define best practice and guides an organized system of culturally sensitive, relationship-based professional growth. Endorsement applicants must meet the requirements matching one of four levels, the closest fit to their line of work, and will finish the process with the Infant Mental Health Endorsed mark (IMH-E®) • 19 professionals earned their Endorsement, with more than 30 on their way to completing the Endorsement process.
2021 IMPACT AREAS
2021 FINANCIALS
W E ARE GR AT EF U L FO R A L L O F O U R SU P P O RT ERS AC RO SS T H E GREAT STAT E O F T EX A S
AT FIR S T 3 YE ARS, W E CO N T I N U E TO LO OK FO R WAYS TO E X PA N D O U R REAC H AC ROSS TH E S TAT E In 2021, we l au n c h e d m o re th a n 3 0 on lin e p rofe s s i o n al l e ar ni ng co u rse s, be gan a p are ntin g m e m b ersh i p to h o st monthly t rai n i n g s an d co mmu ni ty conversa tio n s , offe re d a week- l o ng vir tu al Baby Day ce l e bra ti o n, a nd s u pp or ted vi rt u al v i s i tati o n fo r fa m i l i es in the c h i l d we l fare system.
2021 REVENUE $1,412, 890
2021 EXPENSE $1,756, 538
Grants (74%)
Programs (85%)
Donations (14%)
Fundraising (6%)
Other (12%)
Management (9%)
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS INDIVIDUALS Arvum B. & Kimberly A Schonwald Charitable Fund Aaron Albright Abbey Gross Abby DeCeuninck Abhishek Prasad Abigail Sharp Alexandra Morales Alexandrea Cuellar Alicia Fortson Alicia Howe Alicia Lee Allison Coburn Allison-Rose Frost Alyssa Martin Amanda Busselman Amanda Juarez Amanda Magnan Amy Boullion Amy Hampton Amy McShane Amy Zuniga Andrea De La Cruz-White Andrea Rothenberg Angela Spradlin Anne Calhoun Duffy & Mike Duffy Anne Fisher Annette Williamson Ashlee Bixby Ashley Anderson Ashley Bradley Ashley Funderburg Ashley Harrell Ashley Leal Ashley Muns Ashley Pope Ashley Raphael Ashley Voigt Ashlyn Locke Augustina Guajardo Avie Schonwald Babita Sherchan Barbara and Ira Einsohn Barbra Silverman Benjamin and Michelle Doerr Benjie Esguerra Beth Danziger Beverley Lewin Beverly Canady Bill Warren Bo Brackendorff Bradley Quirk Brant Crandall Brenda Jones Brian Buffington Brian Lemery Brian Wolf Brittney Newman Caleb Dansky Carl Kunhardt Carl Loye Carla Blair Carlos Fernandez Carol and Ed Maier Carolyn Freeman Cassandra Farias-Ybarra Catherine Baka Catherine Lewis Cathy Guttentag Cesar Termulo Cherry Price Cheryl Crawford Chris Hensman Christie Hutchinson
Christie Shaw Christina Easton Christina Fitgerald Christina Henriquez Christy Serrano Cindy Bruington Cindy Myers Claire Hazlett Claudia Alexander Claudia Woodruff Cory Lukens Bowen Courtney Welch Craig A Cristina and Philip Danze Crystal Ramirez Crystal Wright Cynthia Elliott Cynthia Frosch Cynthia Garrison Cynthia Guerrero Dailyn Acosta Daniel Gerber Daniela Coats Darren Dobbs David Allston David Doughty David L DiFabio David M. Munson & Mona Campbell Munson Fund at The Dallas Foundation Dawn Marshall Debra Spencer Dee Ekemode Dena Yantz Denise Jechow Dennis Smith Derrick Lee Devin Reid Diane and Richard Evans Diane Goyette Diane Twist Dina Drozdov Donald Cooper Donna Bernelle Donna Henry Douglas R Evans Duane Schultze Dwayne Toler Eartha Taylor Eileen Sutter Eleanor Butt Crook Elizabeth Heimbaugh Eric Ruiz Erica Kelly Erica Martinez Erika Estrada Erika Gooding Eva C Villarreal Evan Moorehead Evern Speers Felicia Angello Felicia Matthew Fernanda Ullauri Gay and Allen Hundley George Ovalle Gifty Aryeetey Gloria Sherman Heather Coe Heather Dickerson Hillary Kramer Lynch Holly Beseda Holly Stephens Iana Schell Irma Torres-Catanach Isabel Silva Jaci Gonzales
Jack Udomsilp Jacqueline Campbell Jad McGuire James McEntee James Miller Jamie Burnett-Pulido Jane Collins Janette Garza Lindner Janice Ballou Janice Moran Janie Mills Janna Colaizzi Jeanine Boroski Jeannette Goodman Jen Menzel Jennifer Johnson Jennifer L. Binford & Louis P. Appel Jessica Guillen Jessica French Jessica Harp Jill Strange Jillian Hawkins Jim Kerins Jim Rivers Jim Ward Joe Amberson John Mowry John Vice John Wharton Jonathan Kirchhoff Josh Kodder Joy Campbell Justin Lewis Karen Gerber Karen Kaelin Kathryn Apolinar Kathy Huynh Kay Hopper Kelley Nichols Ken Graves Kendra Scott Kevin Aceves Kevin Tian Kim Ryan Kimberly Vaughn Kristen McLaughlin Kristen Pringle Kristina Griffin Kyle Hodges Lara Gaither Laura Mojica Laura Pierce Laura Shattuck Leland Murphy Lena Bermea Liliana Cadena Maizel Lilly Fernandez Linda Barnett Linda Nunnery Lindsey Mena Louis Appel Lucia Ciciolla Lucy Morris Luis Madrigal Ly Barrett Lynda Irvine Maggie Swick Maranda Deason Margaret Aguas Margaret Fleetwood Maria Aleman Maria Guzman Maria Jimenez Marilyn and David Adler Marisela Betancourt
Marisol Tavares Mark Franklin Sinatra Marsha Baumann Marshall & Michelle Funk Martha Howe Mary Brulet Mary Carroll Marysol Villanueva Matt Smith & Christy Serrano Maureen Gilbert Thibault Maureen Guzman McGill Ricks Charitable Gift Fund Megan Williams Meghan Dunshee Melanda Mugofwa Meliss Loyola Melissa Bingham Michael Caruso Michael Rovaris Michelle Daly Miguel Guzman Misty Wilson Mo Sabih Monica Gautney Monica Ruiz Monserrat Mata Natalia Fernandez Natalie Fellows Natalie Irwin Naveyah Martinez Nejuan Adams Nicholas Kaylor Nikki Shearman Norma K. Stone Ora Watson Oralia Tovar Pagett Gosslee Patricia Vargas Patrick Mckittrick Patty Miller Paul & Ashley Borthick Paula McIntire Paula Tarver Paulina Erices Peter & Julie Hutt Rachel Phillips Rachel Salas Rachel Wilchester RaeAnn Olger Raquel Villareal Rashmi Bakshi Ray Richardson Rebecca Liles Rebecca Olivares Reginald Perry Renita Garrett Rhonda Diane Richardson Richard & Angelika Stinson Ron and Cecilia Rinard Ronda & Matt Deso A Child of Grace Foundation Rosa Arzola-Hernandez Rosy Ramos Sabrina Clark Sadie Funk Sally Smith Samana Hussain Samantha Redig Sara & Gary Ahr Sara Galindo Sarah McNamee Sarah Stern Scott Brodie Sean Dyer Seema Jacob Shamim Ratnani
Sharon Talley Shaun Stone Shauna Moyer Sheila Beard Shelly Moreno Sierra Diamond Sierra Hansen Sondra Whitaker Stephanie Guignard Stephanie Madrigal Stephanie Nelson Stephen Nunnery Steven Gravseth Susan White Susan Zoll Susanna Guzman Suzanne Stevenson Suzy Armstrong Tameka Caldwell Tammer Farid Tammy Braddock Taylor Burger Tena Callahan Teressa Jimenez Terri Buccarelli Terry Witherspoon Theresa Perazzelli Thomas Naito Tiffany Mays Tiffany Nicole Mays Tiffany Redding Tim Kaminski Timothy & Denise Kramer Todd Steudtner Toni HIx Tosha Smith Tricia Hisey Vernon Muhammad Victoria Henao Wendy Badgwell William Keys
ORGANIZATIONS/COMPANIES Aetna Better Health Aetna Star Kids Albertsons Safeway Amazon Smile AVANCE - North Texas AVANCE Houston Bob's Steak & Chop House Brighton Catholic Charities CD Wealth Management Chevron Matching Communities in Schools Cook Children's Deep Ellum Brewing Company Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark First Steps, Inc. Fort Worth Library Genesse ISD Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund Goodies From Goodman HHS Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program III Forks Steakhouse IMA Financial Group In-N-Out Burger Foundation
FOUNDATIONS
Irvine Executive and Human Resources Consulting James Avery Foundation Joe Funk Construction Junior League of Houston Kaplan Early Learning Company Kendra Scott Lakes Regional Lakewood Dermatology Lifepath Lumin Matlock Real Estate Group McAfee Metro Care Services MHMR Tarrant County Motivation, Education and Training, Inc. myWalgreens New Day NightLight Pediatric Urgent Care Nordstrom North Texas Therapy & Home Care Pines Montessori School PlainsCapital Bank Project OneDay
Communities Foundation of Texas Dallas Stars Foundation DuBose Family Foundation Episcopal Health Foundation Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund H100 Latino Giving Circle Fund at Texas Women’s Foundation H-E-B Herman H. Fleishman Foundation Hogg Foundation for Mental Health Houston Endowment In-N-Out Burger Foundation Kahn Education Foundation PNC Foundation R4 Foundation
Quest Capital Management SafeHaven Samuels Family Foundation Six Flags & Friends Sloan Investment Management Snooze Summer Moon Tacodeli Texas Children's Health Plan Texas Department of Family & Protective Services Texas Health Resources Texas Healthcare Advisory Council Texas Rangers TexProtects The Warren Center Thought Ensemble Tiff's Treats Total Wine & More Travis County HHSC Trophy Fitness UBS Financial Services UTD Center for Children & Families WiNGS
Rainwater Charitable Foundation Samuels Family Foundation Sid W. Richardson Foundation Simmons Sisters Fund at Texas Women's Foundation The Lewis Foundation The Meadows Foundation The Miles Foundation The Morris Foundation The Powell Foundation The Rees-Jones Foundation United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Our mission is to educate, advocate, and collaborate to advance the healthy development of infants, toddlers, and their families. www.first3yearstx.org