First3Years began in 1980 as a group of volunteers in the infant mental health field who were concerned about the quality of care for infants and toddlers both inside and outside the home.  The founders wanted to create high quality training and education opportunities for professionals whose work impacts the emotional development of infants, toddlers, and their families.

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First3Years was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization, The Texas Association for Infant Mental Health (TAIMH), a non-profit affiliate of the World Association for Infant Mental Health.  TAIMH rebranded as First3Years to highlight the important period of development that happens during a child's first three years of life, when 85% of core brain development has occurred.  While genetics provides the blueprint for brain development, it is everyday experiences with their caregivers that help to shape how the brain becomes hardwired to learn and interact with the world around them.  It is this focus on early relationships and the role that they play in social-emotional and cognitive development that remain the focus of our organization.