Arizona's newest Strengthening Families cohort. Photo courtesy of Maureen Hollocker and the Children's Trust Fund Alliance. |
Highlight
Strengthening Families Community of Practice
In January, the Department of Child Safety Office of Prevention secured federal funding to certify 38 Arizona professionals to become Strengthening Families Protective FactorsTM trainers. As part of this effort, the DCS Office of Prevention and Prevent Child Abuse Arizona collaborated to create a Community of Practice for these new trainers. Experienced Strengthening Families Protective FactorsTM trainers Sara Martinez and Sandi Cimino facilitated this community.
When she designed the Community of Practice meeting structure, Sara Martinez’s intention was "to build and exchange knowledge while providing support to newly certified trainers. We wanted to cultivate a welcoming environment with safety as a a founding pillar. Through a safe space, we knew that opportunity would thrive. Opportunity to connect in the moment and in the future. Opportunity to lean into new activities and the discomfort that can often come when we may feel like a novice. Opportunity to share what has worked and what we may need to workshop. Opportunity to feel okay not knowing it all and that you would not be judged."
Attendees relished the opportunity to learn and grow alongside their peers. The attendees reported the most valuable aspects of the meetings were "having a chance to see and reconnect with the community of trainers" and "other trainers sharing their knowledge, tools, and techniques." Most importantly, the group truly "felt like a community." Together, the new Strengthening Families Protective FactorsTM trainers have put the curriculum into action by strengthening one another.
Interested in learning more about the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors or how to receive a training?
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Impact Story
First Lean On Me AZ Community Forum in Tucson
On September 10 and 24 in Tucson, with the help of Lean On Me AZ Facilitator Sandi Cimino, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona had its first two Lean On Me AZ community forums. These forums were provided in partnership with 4Tucson, a faith-based group taking initiative to address systemic issues in their county. When learning about the Lean On Me AZ toolkit, which includes a call to action to support parents, many attendees noticed a subtle shift as they identified some of their own biases about parents and learned how to change their perceptions. The Lean On Me AZ tools, based around the Strengthening Families Protective FactorsTM, helped the group understand ways in which they can support and strengthen families and challenge unhelpful assumptions. Lean On Me AZ is a project supported by Casey Family Programs.
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Advocacy
The CDC now offers a new "Policy In Action" resource on preventing child abuse and neglect. The tool includes real-world examples of policies that create conditions for children and families to thrive. These examples offer state and community leaders, government agencies, and community organizations strategies to improve community well-being.
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On September 14, the Census Bureau released its annual statistics on income, poverty, and health insurance. The data shows striking evidence about policies that can effectively reduce poverty and address racial inequities, even in the context of the devastating health and economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The data, along with other analyses of hardship over the last year, underscore the particular value of providing cash to families to combat poverty and economic insecurity. You can learn more about from the Center for the Study of Social Policy at the link below.
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Today in Prevention
Let’s focus on what’s strong rather than what’s wrong. In this 6-part series, participants will learn about the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework, an approach to working with families in a way that builds their strengths as a solution to their challenges. The first session will provide an introduction, and the subsequent five sessions will delve deeper into each protective factor. You are welcome to register for each class independently or attend the series as a whole!
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Webinar: Applying the Trauma-Informed Approach to Our Relationships
October 27, 2021 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presenter: Rick Griffin, Community Resilience Initiative Director of Training and Prevent Child Abuse Arizona Board President
In partnership with the Arizona Adverse Childhood Experiences Consortium, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is continuing its trauma-informed series. This month, learn more about how applying a trauma-informed lens can positively impact your interactions with yourself, your family, your colleagues, and your community.
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Registration for the 8th Annual ACEs Summit Now Open!
The Arizona Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Consortium invites you to join a community of professionals for three full days of cutting-edge ACEs and resilience science and systems-based transformations. The virtual event, taking place December 14-16, 2021, will feature acclaimed speakers such as Donna Jackson Nakazawa, Laura Porter, and more.
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona will be hosting the pre-conference, occurring on December 14, 2021.
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Fundraising
Will you help victims of sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, and other interpersonal crimes get the help they need? This year, the Hope Still Floats fundraising event – benefiting Yavapai Family Advocacy Center – will be hosted in-person at the Hassayampa Inn on October 9th at 5:00 pm. Fitting for its Prescott location, the theme is the Wild, Wild West!
Purchase your tickets this week to participate!
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Not able to be there in person but still want to help? |
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Director's Corner
The Courage of an Open Mind
By Claire Louge, Executive Director
Think of something that you know to be true. You believe in this. You have strong conviction you are right about this. You are passionate about it. You may even identify with this belief – it is a critical part of you. Got it? Now let me ask you this:
How do you know that it’s right? How did you learn that it was true? And, importantly: what, if anything, could change your mind?
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As a 501(c)3 organization, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is eligible to receive bequests. Please contact Rebekah Prieto at rebekah@pcaaz.org if you would like to discuss including
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona in your legacy.
Tax ID #86-0832901
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona can only accept donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations located in the State of Arizona.
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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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