Child advocate believes state should consider options beyond group homes

January Contreras is the executive director of Children's Action Alliance, an advocacy organization for the health, safety and quality of learning of kids in Arizona.

“Every child deserves to be safe," Contreras said.

Contreras advocates for group home alternatives for children.

“I come back to the solution of supporting families, supporting grandparents. Many grandparents, aunts, uncles are ready to step in. We need to do that, and we need to recruit more foster homes as well," Contreras said.

One of the bills Contreras is supporting this legislative session is SB 1305, which she said would provide a stipend for relatives who are stepping in to care for children in their family that are not their own.

“Congress and so many leaders across the country have said congregate care really just cannot be the answer for kids," Contreras said.

Medicaid Plays Crucial Role in Rural Arizona

January Contreras, executive director of the Children's Action Alliance, said the conversations in Washington, D.C., about possible cuts to Medicaid seem "disconnected" from what is happening on the ground in Arizona.

"What will happen if coverage for hundreds of thousands of people is taken away is, there will be more uncompensated care," Contreras pointed out. "People will continue to need emergency rooms, they'll continue to need health care services - and those costs will shift to others in the health care system."

CAA Legislative Agenda

January Contreras, Executive Director of Children’s Action Alliance, joined “Arizona Horizon” to talk about what she and other children’s advocates would like to see from the Arizona Legislature in 2025.