First 5 Alabama

First 5 Alabama First 5 Alabama is part of a global effort to support early learning and positive health outcomes.

Vision: All Alabama Children Thrive By Five

The Alabama Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (AAIECMH) was formed in January 2017 and will operate under the name of First 5 Alabama. During this time, the AAIECMH became a licensed affiliate of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health®, a global organization that includes those states and countries whose infant mental health associations have licensed the use of the Competency Guidelines® and Endorsement® for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health® under their associations’ names. Purpose and goals of the Association:

• promote the healthy social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of children from conception through five years of age through supportive and nurturing relationships;

• facilitate interdisciplinary cooperation among individuals concerned with promoting conditions that will bring about the optimal development of infants and young children;

• encourage the realization that infancy is a sensitive period in the psychosocial development of individuals and to promote education, research, and study of the effects of mental development during infancy on later normal and psychopathological development; and

• promote the education, professional development, and Endorsement® of professionals across multiple disciplines to increase the supply of early childhood mental health consultants to enhance programs of care, intervention, and prevention of mental impairment in infancy and early childhood. Founding Partners:
Alabama Partnership for Children (manages the Association)
Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education
Alabama Department of Education
Alabama Department of Human Resources
Alabama Department of Mental Health
Alabama Department of Public Health
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Early Intervention

First 5 Alabama | Board Officers

Faye Nelson, President
Alabama Department of Human Resources

Gail Piggott, Secretary
Alabama Partnership for Children Secretary

Sallye Longshore, Treasurer
Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention

Social Emotional Development and Play (2hrs)When: November 19, 2025 01:00 PM📍Register in advance for this meeting:https:...
10/27/2025

Social Emotional Development and Play (2hrs)

When: November 19, 2025 01:00 PM

📍Register in advance for this meeting:
https://ow.ly/j9WJ50UEEml

The Power of Vocabulary Building with Young Children with Andi WilsonWhen: November 10, 2025 11:00 AM 📍Register in advan...
10/27/2025

The Power of Vocabulary Building with Young Children with Andi Wilson

When: November 10, 2025 11:00 AM

📍Register in advance for this meeting:
https://ow.ly/KCjf50UHLbs

Challenging Behaviors Round Table with Kenyetta WallaceWhen: November 3, 2025, at 11:30 AMAudience- All caregivers of in...
10/20/2025

Challenging Behaviors Round Table with Kenyetta Wallace

When: November 3, 2025, at 11:30 AM

Audience- All caregivers of infants and Children or Anyone with questions related to challenging behaviors in infants and children

📍Register in advance for this meeting:
https://ow.ly/XSGP50UI7AE

Endorsement Support & Live Office Hours – Register Now!Hi First 5 Alabama Members,We are excited to offer Endorsement Su...
10/16/2025

Endorsement Support & Live Office Hours – Register Now!

Hi First 5 Alabama Members,

We are excited to offer Endorsement Support & Live Office Hours on the 1st and 4th Wednesday of each month at 12 PM. If you’re interested in joining, please register using the link below:

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/XRgSCszhR4-UkV3tiD70Lg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the meeting.

✨Director Spotlight: Delia Hasberry✨Delia Hasberry, Director of First 5 Alabama, is passionate about supporting families...
10/09/2025

✨Director Spotlight: Delia Hasberry✨

Delia Hasberry, Director of First 5 Alabama, is passionate about supporting families and promoting early relational health across the state. Under her leadership, First 5 Alabama has strengthened its mission to provide Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, empowering both childcare providers and families to thrive.

Delia takes great joy in working alongside dedicated consultants and partners who share her commitment to high-quality care for young children. She values the collaboration, expertise, and heart that each team member brings to the work of supporting families and nurturing healthy early relationships.

For Delia, the most rewarding part of her role is witnessing the positive impact on children, caregivers, and communities—ensuring that every child has a strong start in life. Her leadership continues to inspire those around her to provide compassionate, evidence-based support that makes a lasting difference.

Check out our October Mental Health Consultation Newsletter!
10/08/2025

Check out our October Mental Health Consultation Newsletter!

ADHD Signs and Symptoms with Karen MarshWhen: October 17, 2025 01:00 PM📍Register in advance for this meeting:https://ow....
10/03/2025

ADHD Signs and Symptoms with Karen Marsh

When: October 17, 2025 01:00 PM

📍Register in advance for this meeting:
https://ow.ly/ftMK50UHTEH

Cracking the Code on Curiosity with Andi WilsonWhen: October 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM📍Register in advance for this meeting:ht...
09/29/2025

Cracking the Code on Curiosity with Andi Wilson

When: October 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM

📍Register in advance for this meeting:
https://ow.ly/lRn050UHMXe

Our September Mental Health Consultation News is here!
09/23/2025

Our September Mental Health Consultation News is here!

✨September Consultant Spotlight is Debbie Bailey✨Hello! I’m Debbie Bailey, and my journey in Early Childhood Education h...
09/18/2025

✨September Consultant Spotlight is Debbie Bailey✨

Hello! I’m Debbie Bailey, and my journey in Early Childhood Education has taken me on many rewarding paths. From leading preschool classrooms and directing programs to teaching fellow childcare providers, I’ve worn many hats—but my passion has always been helping children thrive. Now, as an Early Childhood Mental Health consultant, I love supporting the parents and teachers who shape young lives every day. Helping adults nurture children’s mental health feels more important than ever, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. Since joining First 5 AL nearly a year ago, I’ve been inspired by the amazing people I’ve met along the way.

I am a mom to a 14-year-old daughter who keeps me on my toes! We love communing with nature, such as hiking and being on the water. I am a movie buff and am quite knowledgeable about pop culture trivia, which means I possess a wealth of useless information. I love my Auburn tigers and the colors navy and orange, and my favorite quote is “Not all those who wander are lost." J.R.R. Tolkien

Endorsement Support & Live Office Hours – Register Now!Hi First 5 Alabama Members,We are excited to offer Endorsement Su...
09/17/2025

Endorsement Support & Live Office Hours – Register Now!

Hi First 5 Alabama Members,

We are excited to offer Endorsement Support & Live Office Hours on the 1st and 4th Wednesday of each month at 12 PM. If you’re interested in joining, please register using the link below:

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://ow.ly/VfOn50VRZ8e

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the meeting.

✨September Center Spotlight✨When Mrs. Elisha Pharr stepped into her first early childhood classroom at the age of 16, sh...
09/15/2025

✨September Center Spotlight✨

When Mrs. Elisha Pharr stepped into her first early childhood classroom at the age of 16, she knew that working with children was what she wanted to do. She began teaching preschool at the age of 19 and at 21, she opened her own in-home child care with her Mom, who is lovingly known as Nana the Great to her Great Grands and all of the daycare kiddos. Now she has had the privilege to expand to a DHR state licensed child care facility with a capacity of 75 and an amazing staff of 13. Her center is the only one in Hamilton, AL to offer infant care and serves children all the way up to school-age. They are currently rated 3 STAR with Alabama Quality Stars.

One thing that sets her apart is her 30 years of teaching and caring for children and her 27 years of owning her own childcare center. She is now keeping kids of kids that she has kept in the past, which speaks of her character and the legacy she has built, along with her Mom, and amazing staff.

One way her facility promotes family and community engagement is planning special themed day throughout the year for first responders, healthcare professionals, parents, and friends to provide engaging activities for the children. Their community helpers events and party days are always a big hit.
Mrs. Pharr is a firm believer in treating children the way you would want your child to be treated and trains her staff in the importance of engagement and conversations with the children. Caring for children is more than taking care of basic needs. It’s providing experiences for the children to participate in: read to them, sing and dance with them, let them get messy, and engage all 5 senses to help them learn and grow to the fullest!

When Mrs. Pharr isn’t busy at the center, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Jason, her children, Carley and son-n-love Michael, and Gavin and soon to be fiancé, Faith. She is really enjoying her new role as Lola to her beautiful grand babies, Meredith and Chandler, which she gets to take care of in her center. Mrs. Pharr wouldn’t be where she is today without her faith in the Lord. He has given her the calling and opened every door she has been able to walk through. She also wouldn’t be where she is without her Mom and amazing staff!!

Address

2595 Bell Road
Montgomery, AL
36117

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