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Moving and Shaking
by Claire Louge
I’m keeping my message brief this month to focus on the announcement of our two new board members. Serving on a nonprofit board is a special kind of care for your community, and PCAAZ is fortunate to welcome the minds and hearts of these two extraordinary leaders to our board to help shape our organization’s path.
A quick note: I was recently chatting with a colleague, and she offered a metaphor for what it feels like to work in the human service sector nowadays: we’re leading in an earthquake. Things are changing every day, often unpredictably. The foundations upon which we built our plans are in question.
But we can’t wait for the ground to stop shaking to get moving. This earthquake may take a while. We need to move while it’s shaking. This requires us to find our center and sense of balance, and to do what we can with what we have. We must practice being nimble. Plans will need to change to adapt to reality. This requires that we give each other – and ourselves – grace. It will be wobbly, and we will fall down. Let’s help each other up. We can do this.
| | | | Welcoming our newest board members: | | | | |
Holly Figueroa
Holly Figueroa is Ohkay Owingeh and Hopi from the village of Sipaulovi and is Sun Clan. As the Tribal Liaison for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice, she strengthens relationships with 17 tribes by promoting access to care, prevention, crisis services, and culturally responsive support. Holly also serves on several boards—including Arizona Town Hall, Arizona Rural Health Association, and MPOWRD—and is a proud OneNTen volunteer and ally advocating for safe spaces for LGBTQ2S communities.
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Erica Quintana
Erica Quintana is a Senior Research Analyst with Morrison Institute for Public Policy, an Arizona State University resource for objective policy analysis and expertise. Morrison Institute researches public policy issues, informs policymakers and residents, and advises leaders on choices and actions.
Erica holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Development with a minor in Psychology from Arizona State University.
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Celebrating Positive Childhood Experiences in Yavapai County
On April 19, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona hosted the annual Pinwheel Party in Yavapai County—
an event designed to celebrate families, create joyful memories, and connect attendees to local resources. The event welcomed an estimated 750 individuals to connect with 38 community organizations. Each resource table offered a hands-on activity, giving children a chance to play while parents engaged with service providers.
Families shared how much fun their kids had, and providers were thrilled by the number of meaningful conversations they had with attendees. The event exemplified what prevention looks like in action: providing support in a universal, accessible way while cultivating positive experiences that help families feel seen, supported, and connected.
| | | | Advocacy Alert: Protect What Families Need | |
Congress is advancing a federal budget that could deeply cut critical programs supporting families—including Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF. These programs provide essential access to healthcare, food, and economic stability for children and their families.
New proposals also include added “work requirements” that create unnecessary barriers to support, risking coverage loss for parents—which affects entire families. These changes could leave many families without the care and resources they need to thrive.
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Former DCS Director David Lujan Featured on National Podcast
David Lujan, the former Director of the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and current Executive Director of the Arizona School for the Arts, discusses the significant recent reduction of the number of children in foster care in Arizona. He credits this change to a strategic shift in caseworker mindset, with a focus on prevention, community-based services, and keeping children safely with their families.
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Share Your Reflections With Us
The beautiful poem above was shared by Healthy Families Family Support Specialist Nathalie Valenzuela.
PCAAZ believes in uplifting the voices, reflections, and passions of those working to strengthen families. If you’d like to contribute a reflection, story, or creative piece for a future newsletter, we’d love to hear from you.
Reach out to molly@pcaaz.org.
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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
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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.
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