June Newsletter: What This Moment Needs

June 2025 Newsletter

What This Moment Needs

by Claire Louge

Let me start with an understatement: There’s a lot going on right now.

When things feel like a lot, I tend to look for truths that ground me. In case it’s all feeling like a lot to you too, I’d like to offer what’s helped keep me resolved . . .

Reunited and Resilient:

Join Us for Family Unification Day

Each June, communities across the nation honor the strength of families who have fought to reunite—and the professionals and support systems that have made it possible. This year, we encourage everyone to adopt a more intentional lens: Family Unification Month.

This shift—from reunification to unification—recognizes that unification is not simply a case outcome. It’s a lifelong commitment to supporting and protecting our nation’s families and keeping them together whenever possible. It reframes our focus away from what the system has achieved, and toward what families need and what they have accomplished.

Arizona’s Family Unification Day 2025 will take place on Sunday, June 29 at Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Phoenix, bringing together families, advocates, judges, and community partners to celebrate progress—and also commit to transforming systems so more families never face separation in the first place.

Together, we can build a culture that unites, not just reunites.

Share the Flyer

ADVOCACY

Now is the moment to advocate.

In May, the House passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which makes large cuts to mandatory funding for critical safety net programs like Medicaid (called AHCCCS in Arizona), TANF, SNAP, and SSBG. The bill now moves to the Senate.

Your voice matters. State-specific stories can help protect these essential supports.

Use Prevent Child Abuse America’s toolkit for messaging and action tips:

Toolkit

Molly's son, Ridge, completes a puzzle with a peer at his childcare center in Prescott, AZ.

Affordable Childcare is Critical to Family Stability

Childcare is essential—not just for children’s development, but for family stability and community wellbeing. In a recent article, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona Director of Strategic Partnerships Molly Peterson shares her personal and professional insights on the rising cost of early childcare and how the lack of access puts an overwhelming strain on Arizona families.

“Family stability benefits all of us,” she says.

TODAY IN PREVENTION

Children Do Best With Their Families

Dr. Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, wrote a poignant op-ed outlining the importance of focusing on family support rather than family surveillance. "The overwhelming majority of families caught in the system are just struggling, not dangerous. And they deserve support, not separation."

See you next month at the CAP Conference!

This July, more than 900 parents, caregivers, and professionals will convene for Arizona’s largest Child Abuse Prevention Conference to date!

All registration and exhibitor spots are officially sold out — a testament to the power of prevention and community.

An event of this scale simply wouldn't be possible without the support of our sponsors:

As a 501(c)3 organization, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is eligible to receive bequests. Please contact Molly Peterson at molly@pcaaz.org if you would like to discuss including Prevent Child Abuse Arizona in your legacy.

Prevent Child Abuse Arizona can only accept donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations located in the State of Arizona.

Tax ID #86-0832901

Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is dedicated to strengthening families and protecting children through collaboration, education, and advocacy. The organization provides research-based prevention services, education and training to help promote strong families and safe, healthy children. For more information, visit pcaaz.org.