First3Years

Awareness: In 2024, First3Years advanced its public awareness efforts to promote early relational health and ensure families across Texas have access to resources that support healthy development during the earliest years of life. Through the Babies in Baytown (BIB) initiative, 40 community organizations and families collaborated to build a more equitable and integrated early childhood system. BIB served 1,634 participants through community events and programs focused on the mental health and well-being of children ages 03. The Houston Infant Toddler Coalition (HITC) convened 52 cross-sector partners to increase access to positive early experiences for young children. In 2024, HITCs activities reached an estimated 204,470 infants and toddlers. The coalition also recognized 4,100 positive parenting moments through its Sticking Together Campaign, which uplifts everyday interactions that support early development. First3Years hosted Baby Day, the only statewide celebration of the first three years of life, on April 2627, 2024. The event was held in partnership with local organizations at 19 locations, serving 2,248 attendees through interactive experiences that promoted bonding and brain development. First3Years also supports Bright by Text, a free text messaging service that shares tips, developmental resources, and local programs and services with parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age eight. By the end of 2024, Bright by Text had 6,914 subscribers representing 7,423 children: a 459% increase in subscribers and 391% increase in children reached compared to 2023.

Professional & Parent Education: Our aim is to empower a community that is prepared to care for and nurture children. We work to ensure all caregivers and engaged stakeholder systems are provided access to current research and best practices on Infant Mental Health and Early Relational Health topics. We offer early childhood professionals, caregivers and parents effective tools and strategies to foster healthy brain development for infants and toddlers. We are the sole provider of Infant Mental Health Endorsement for professionals in the state of TX. Endorsement 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. In 2024, we trained 1104 professionals through 127 live training events and bestowed the IMH Endorsement credential on 28. We estimate that these professionals and caregivers directly enhance the development of over 149,000 children annually.