Southwest Human Development has received a $100,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, generated by the WM Phoenix Open, to support the Birth to Five Helpline and its Fussy Baby program, Arizona’s only helpline dedicated exclusively to parents, caregivers and early childhood professionals caring for children birth to age five.
Funding will sustain the Helpline Specialists who staff this free, statewide service, ensuring families can reach a trained early childhood professional by phone, text, email or online, at no cost, with no eligibility requirements and no limit on how often they reach out. Specialists provide individualized guidance on sleep, feeding, behavior and developmental concerns, along with referrals to community resources. For parents of infants who are difficult to soothe, the Fussy Baby program offers more intensive support aimed at easing caregiver stress before it compounds.
Each year, the Helpline responds to roughly 6,000 contacts, many from Greater Phoenix. Callers often reach out more than once as concerns evolve, allowing specialists to build ongoing, relationship-based support rather than offer one-time advice.
This grant extends a partnership between Thunderbirds Charities and Southwest Human Development spanning more than two decades, including past support for the Good Fit Counseling Center, the Children’s Developmental Center, the ADAPT Shop and the Birth to Five Helpline.
“Parents aren’t looking for someone to tell them they’re doing it wrong,” said Maria Lopez, Birth to Five Helpline Program Manager. “They just want a partner who understands what they’re up against. This grant means we can keep saying yes to every family who reaches out.”
This grant is part of the Spring 2026 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.