Best practice for calling an API or method at start point of Flutter App that needs context?

Question

What is the best approach to calling an API or method when a screen wants to start in the Flutter app?

As I know in initState method, there is no context so I use didChangeDependencies method like below, but I always think there is a better way to tackle this issue. Any idea, snippet, or sample project link will be appreciated.

class HomeTabScreen extends StatefulWidget {
  static String route = 'accountTab';

  @override
  _HomeTabScreenState createState() => _HomeTabScreenState();
}

class _HomeTabScreenState extends State<HomeTabScreen> {
  late HomeTabViewModel homeTabVM;
  var firstTime = true;

  late TabController _controller;

  @override
  void initState() {
    super.initState();
  }

  @override
  void didChangeDependencies() {
    super.didChangeDependencies();

    if (firstTime) {
      homeTabVM = context.watch<HomeTabViewModel>();
      homeTabVM.getUserData(context);

      _controller = TabController(
        length: homeTabVM.list.length,
        vsync: this,
        initialIndex: 1,
      );

      firstTime = false;
    }

    homeTabVM.listKey = GlobalKey();
    homeTabVM.listItems.clear();
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
        body: Container(
      color: Colors.transparent,
      child: Center(
        child: CircularProgressIndicator(),
      ),
    ));
  }
}