Child Crisis Arizona helps keep kids safe from abuse
Child Crisis Arizona is entering its fifth decade of sheltering the Valley’s children from abuse and neglect.
Through prevention, intervention and education programs the organization supports thousands of children and families who may be at risk.
The agency’s Emergency Children’s Shelter, at 604 W. Ninth St. in Mesa, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staff and volunteers provide medical care and counseling to children experiencing abandonment, homelessness, abuse or parental incarceration.
The nonprofit also offers a yearround preschool program in Phoenix and Mesa, free parenting classes, support groups, workshops, counseling and a home visitation program.
Child Crisis Arizona also has a foster care and adoption program to license, train and certify individuals and families interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents.
“Child Crisis Arizona exists to provide Arizona’s children a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect,” Grants Manager Barbara Polston said.
Child Crisis Arizona’s first program offered round-the-clock care for children who could not be released from the hospital into their family’s care for concerns of abuse or neglect, or to assist families in crisis who needed short-term, round-the-clock care for their children when no other care options were available.
We still offer the Emergency Children’s Shelter as the only such care facility in Maricopa County. Most of the children in our care come to us through the Arizona Department of Child Safety or tribal social services when children are removed from their families for abuse or neglect. We continue to provide
❚ Use the coupon on 4A of The Arizona Republic and mail donations to P.O. Box 29250, Phoenix, AZ 85038-9250.
❚ Text “sharing” to 91-999 and click on the link in the text message.
❚ Click on the “donate” button at facebook.com/seasonforsharing.
❚ Shop at Dig It Gardens, 3015 N. 16th St., Phoenix. They will donate 2 percent of sales each weekend during the campaign. digphx.com.
Who is helped
Last year, 153 agencies received $2.2 million. Since 1993, more than $64 million has been distributed.
Where the money goes
It all stays in Arizona. One hundred percent of your donations and the matching funds go directly to nonprofit agencies in the state. All overhead and fundraising costs are paid by The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com.
How your dollars help
The Gannett Foundation and the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust will multiply your donation by matching your gift 50 cents on the dollar up to $600,000. no-cost care for children voluntarily placed by their families in times of duress.
Child Crisis Arizona has also provided foster-care and adoption services for 40 years. We see families through the process of obtaining their license (for foster care) or certification (for adoption) and then monitor placements of children into their homes. We provide a cadre of wrap-around services to ensure those families are healthy and strong.
All of Child Crisis Arizona’s programs are developed in response to community need as we seek to execute our mission by filling those needs for children and families.
Child Crisis Arizona served 4,322 individuals during fiscal year 2017-18.
Child Crisis Arizona has an evaluation plan for each of its programs.
In the Foster Care and Adoption Program, we judge our success by the number of families we license or certify, the number of placements made into those homes, the stability of those placements, the number of adoptions finalized, the number of nights of care provided to children and through a consumer satisfaction survey.
In the Emergency Children’s Shelter Program, we gauge success by meeting all the needs of each child in our care including basic needs (food, clothing, shelter); medical, dental and behavioral health needs; and educational needs. In the last fiscal year, we provided 77,849 nights of safe sleep for children.
Approximately 200.
Child Crisis Arizona is always appreciative of financial support. Because we are a qualified foster-care agency with the state of Arizona, Arizona residents can qualify for a state income-tax credit for donations made to support our work.
For the holiday season, we are seeking donations of gift cards to grocery stores or mainstream department stores. These are provided directly to the families we serve, giving them the gift of choice in how they choose to celebrate the holidays with a special meal or gifts for family members.
Your generous Season for Sharing grant was used to provide 250 nights of safe sleep for our community’s most vulnerable children. Thank you for your help and caring!