First 3 Years
About First3Years
Partnered with Strong Start Blend
First3Years is statewide non-profit located in Texas. First3Years was founded in 1980 by early childhood clinicians who were concerned about the quality of care young children receive. Empowered by the neuroscience showing 85% of early brain development happens by age 3, they wanted to create opportunities for all infants and toddlers’ early health and development to be supported during this critical developmental period. Since 1980, we have trained thousands of professionals and parents on the latest research in infant/toddler development; impacting hundreds of thousands of infants and toddlers. Today, First3Years has a state-wide reach with a presence in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
Purpose
First3Year's vision is to provide every child with a strong start, providing all infants and toddlers with safe and secure experiences that promote a firm foundation for positive lifetime outcomes. Their work is to continue building the capacity among professionals, programs, and systems to support families through positive attachment, trauma informed care, responsive caregiving, and access to services that meets their physical and mental needs.
Mission
The mission of First3Years is to educate, advocate, and collaborate to advance the healthy development of infants, toddlers, and their families. Our programs are designed to build awareness of the critical importance of the first three years of life, enhance the quality of relationships between infants/toddlers and their caregivers, advocate for policies and practices that support the healthy development of young children, and educate professionals in best practices.