Category: Announcement

Urge Senate Education Committee to support SB1376 for Youth Mental Health Programs

More and more states are requiring mental health education in schools as young people are increasingly vulnerable to depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental illness. Today, Arizona has an opportunity to join the movement with SB1376 and to help more students - students like Briana.

Briana always did well in school until around the 8th grade when things in life started to slip for her. She began grappling with depression. She eventually transferred to another school where her school administrator, Ms. Cyndi, took notice how she was struggling. Ms. Cyndi reached out to Briana to express concern and did research on limited mental health services available for youth as she had witnessed the disturbing trend in other students.  She worked with Briana to start a new after-school club at their school called Your Life Matters (YLM), a peer-to-peer support resource. Through YLM, students recognized they were not alone.  They received basic education on mental health in a safe place to share and to be accepted.  Briana credits YLM for saving her life.

Briana was inspired to get more involved in YLM.  Together they began attending community events and advocating that school mental health programs and clubs like YLM be started in other schools as well.

She also got connected with a local initiative called Help & Hope for YOUth and joined their youth task force. Help & Hope for YOUth, a member of Children’s Action Alliance’s Southern Arizona Advisory Committee, is a multi-sector initiative working to improve outcomes for young people (age 10 – 24) by reducing the stigma of living with and seeking services for mental health challenges.

Their Advocacy & Policy Task Force elevated the youth voice brought forward by members of the community such as Briana, and set out to find ways where schools could do better in supporting youth struggling with mental health challenges.

The first of which just became a bill at the Arizona Legislature!

SB 1376 Senator Bowie’s mental health curriculum bill has been scheduled for a hearing: TODAY, Tuesday February 2 at 2:00 PM. Please take a moment to show your support by taking action below in support of the bill.

Representative Hernandez has the mirror bill HB 2656 which he has introduced in the House.

State of the State

This week, the Arizona legislature begins its work for the year at a time when many Arizona children and families are struggling to meet their basic needs during this health and economic crisis. Recently released data by the U.S. Census Bureau shows 1 in 6 Arizona households with children (16%) said they had only slight confidence or no confidence at all that they would be able to make their next rent or mortgage payment on time. Increasing numbers of Arizona households with children are also reporting they do not have health insurance and/or do not have enough food to eat, and communities of color are disproportionately suffering.

That is why it will be so critical for lawmakers to focus their work on helping families achieve financial stability, and keeping children healthy and safe during these difficult times.

Our 2021 legislative priorities include:

  • Making health care more accessible for Arizona’s children by expanding eligibility for KidsCare, Arizona’s Children’s Health Insurance Program;
  • Restoring supports to grandparents and other kinship caregivers who step in and prevent children from entering foster care when parents are unable to care for their children;
  • Provide safe, quality child care options for working parents of young children by increasing the child care subsidy reimbursement rates;
  • Providing Arizona’s public schools with the same amount of funding for conducting virtual schools during the pandemic as they receive for in-person instruction.

What Arizona does not need is more tax cuts which will only reduce state revenues that struggling Arizona families are counting on to provide housing and food supports, and make child care more affordable. Rather than shortsighted tax cuts, we urge Governor Ducey and lawmakers to take a more responsible approach and prioritize a plan to stop the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19, and put Arizona on a path to recovery from this health and economic crisis.

Read our 2021 Legislative Priorities

Brighter days ahead

With the kind of year 2020 has been, the Children’s Action Alliance team and I want to focus on brighter days ahead. Our thoughts continue to be with everyone who has been impacted by the COVID pandemic and economic downturn; especially families who are struggling to meet their basic housing, food, and health care needs. We have hope for a brighter future as we look back on the things, you and CAA have accomplished this year.

Together, we worked with communities and partners to:

  • Successfully advocate for payments so that child care centers can remain financially stable during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Lead the way in directing eviction prevention dollars to grandparents raising grandchildren and foster youth aging out of foster care.
  • Bring hundreds of millions of new dollars in K-12 public education funding to address Arizona’s teacher shortage, reduce class sizes, hire more aides and counselors, and expand career and technical education.
  • Urge Arizona’s Congressional delegation to take proactive measures to provide fiscal relief for states and assistance for people who are struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic.
  • Raise awareness of the critical issues families are facing during the pandemic through media and publications. Click here for CAA’s Year in Review.

We believe brighter days are ahead because supporters like YOU care about the issues we hold up and fight for like foster youth transitioning to adulthood and grandparents and other kinship caregivers raising children who would otherwise be in the foster care system. Next year we will work hard to close the health insurance coverage gap for Arizona’s children and to increase quality, affordable child care options for working parents of young children. You give children and families hope through your financial support and your advocacy.

The fight for good policy for children starts with you. Please continue to support Children’s Action Alliance with a gift today. We act as an independent voice to identify and eliminate barriers to the well-being for children and families and create opportunities for success through community partnerships and policy solutions.

We wish you moments of peace amid the difficulties, connections with family and friends even if they can’t be in person, and the warmth of memories from celebrations past.

Stay safe and be well.

In gratitude,

Siman Qaasim, President and CEO

P.S. – CAA will remain focused and vocal at the State Capitol urging our newly elected lawmakers to take meaningful action so that Arizona emerges from this crisis better and more strong. Please continue to stand for children with a financial gift today.

Urging lawmakers for safety at and access to the state Capitol in 2021

As we find ourselves barreling toward 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect individuals, claim lives, and devastate communities. Despite this, our state's leaders have yet to take meaningful steps to curb the spread of the virus – let alone to ensure safety and transparency in the coming legislative session.

Last week, CAA and the AZ Center delivered a letter to lawmakers urging them to adopt common-sense safety protocols in advance of opening day at the Capitol. Over 50 health and human service organizations, faith groups, trade associations, and community advocates joined us in making this urgent request. We asked the legislature to:

1) Mandate masks for everyone at all meetings, hearings, and other gatherings at the State Capitol, and adequately enforce this mandate.

2) Allow for remote and widely accessible opportunities for engagement in public hearings including taking immediate steps to allow for video/teleconference participation and testimony. Provide a phone-in option for people with inadequate internet access.

3) Ensure that hearings are accessible to those who speak other languages, the deaf, and to those who are hard of hearing. The legislature should ensure that American Sign Language (ASL), language interpretation, and/or closed captioning services are available during all teleconference meetings, and transcripts should be made available as soon as possible after a hearing or meeting.

4) Revamp the Request to Speak system. At present, a person can create an account from anywhere – but that account can’t be used to weigh in on a bill until the login information has been “activated” from a computer station at the State Capitol. This makes even remote participation inaccessible for rural Arizonans, people without access to transportation, working individuals, or people at high risk of COVID-19.

5) The legislature should allow for pre-recorded video to be viewed, written testimony to be viewed or read aloud during any hearing. Similarly, remote voting options should be provided for the safety of lawmakers, and votes cast remotely should be made clear and visible to the public.

6) Adhere to public health guidelines related to appropriate ventilation, choice of venue, and audience size to facilitate safe in-person participation.

Truth be told, this effort is long overdue. Though the novel coronavirus pandemic has brought these concerns to the front of our mind, our state legislative process has been inaccessible to too many, for too long.  This is an opportunity to make changes now that will bring about long-term improved accessibility to our elected lawmakers and the legislative process.

You can help support this effort. Click here to access our letter, and take a moment to send a note to your state lawmakers reinforcing these concerns. Not sure who your lawmakers are? Click here to find out.

Today is the last day to vote, Election Day

Thank you, Arizonans, for casting a record number of ballots before Election Day! If you have not done so, you still have a chance to make your voice heard in this election. Today is the time to get out to vote. Key races that directly impact children, such as for school board and legislative seats, are often decided by just a few votes. We need everyone who cares about children to vote like our future depends on it.

Click here to check your ballot status for early voting.

Voting is one of the important ways you can ensure your priorities are heard on the public policies that impact health, education, and the racial inequities in our society. When the newly elected legislators begin session in January, we will need all of you to stay passionate and engaged about improving the well-being of children. It will take all of us to keep policy makers accountable to their commitments.

Stay engaged by using the resources on our new and updated website, and encourage others to get involved and to stay informed on issues you support by signing up for our weekly policy news.

Every vote matters. Thanks again for supporting children and families in Arizona.

KIDS COUNT Data Book is the only source to focus on statewide trends about Arizona’s children

Children’s Action Alliance (CAA) is proud to present the 2020 Arizona KIDS COUNT Data Book—the only biennial source to focus on statewide trends about Arizona’s children. Thanks to the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this powerful resource helps inform decision-makers and stakeholders about the economic, social, and physical well-being of children and their families throughout the state. In addition to the Data Book, statewide and county indicators can be found on our new and updated website – along with other resources, toolkits, and information on how to advocate for children and families.

As you know, CAA regularly uses data as a compelling tool to find common ground across geography and political ideology to create an Arizona where every child is safe, loved, and has access to quality education and affordable health care. In this KIDS COUNT Data Book, the data show Arizona has made important strides in improving the conditions for children since the Great Recession - before the unprecedented challenges our communities, our state and our nation have faced due to the COVID-19 health crisis.

The 2020 Arizona KIDS COUNT Data Book offers a closer look at the strengths and contributions of immigrant families as more than 1 in 4 children are growing up in an immigrant household and 6 in 10 Arizona children are children of color.  Despite the changing demographics in the state, children of color are more likely than their White peers to lack the fundamental supports to grow up healthy and strong. It is our hope that YOU - lawmakers, advocates, and state agency leaders use the information in this Data Book to address the long-standing structural inequities in our state. It is time to move towards an Arizona that provides opportunity for all children, not a privileged few.

As advocates for children, we will continue to challenge ourselves to think creatively and critically to find new ways to support Arizona’s children and families. Join us and use the Data Book and other resources on our new website to spark action for measurable and positive change.

Register to vote

Children cannot vote, but we can. Arizona’s children are counting on all eligible voters to raise their voices and vote for candidates and ballot measures that will improve the quality of life for families and future generations. Monday, October 5 is the last day to register to vote. To register to vote, click here, or to update your current voter information for the upcoming election on November 3, please click here.

This year’s election goes beyond who will be president. Your vote is your voice on issues affecting education, healthcare, and safety of children in the state.

Children’s Action Alliance has a candidate questionnaire  and virtual forums to help voters learn more about candidates’ positions on issues important to children:

We will bring more of these virtual platforms over the next few weeks so stay tuned for updates.

Future generations are depending on you to vote for candidates and ballot measures that will help children, families, and communities thrive. Every vote matters and every vote counts. Make a pledge with our partner, Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition, to vote this election and help others to vote too.

Children’s Action Alliance (CAA) is proud to provide non-partisan information to educate voters about children’s health, education, and security. We help to connect voters with the candidates who share their priorities. As an independent voice for Arizona children at the state capitol and in the community, CAA does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Include every American Family in COVID-19 Relief and Recovery

The U.S. Senate finally introduced their version of the next COVID-19 relief bill and a vote could come as early as this week. Though there is speculation that the new bill doesn't have the votes to pass, now is a critical moment to reach out to lawmakers. With this next legislation, we have an opportunity to put our stated values into action and include families of all backgrounds in the recovery. Join us on this day of action for immigrant families by contacting your senators to let them know how you feel.  

Even though 1 in 4 children in Arizona have a parent who is an immigrant, the previous federal COVID-19 relief packages left out entire households, simply because of one parent’s citizenship status. In Arizona, 104,000 children live in an immigrant household that did not receive a stimulus payment due to an ITIN filing. Nearly, 1 out of 6 immigrants in Arizona works in an essential job, including caring for sick and elderly people, growing food, and keeping grocery stores stocked. Additionally, many immigrants and low-income Arizonans have not had adequate access to COVID-19 medical services. It’s critical that testing, treatment, and vaccines are readily available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay or immigration status.

  • Roughly 45% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in children (age 0-17) are Latino but, Latinos make up 25% of the U.S. child population (data as of August 13, 2020).
  • Nineteen percent of non-elderly Latinos had no form of health insurance before the pandemic. As of July 21, more than 22% of Latinos report having no form of health coverage.
  • Throughout July, 21% of Latino households with children have food insecurities.
  • A recent poll by UnidosUS in Arizona, Florida, and Texas, more than 40% of laid off Latino workers did not know if they qualified for unemployment insurance. Of those who applied, roughly one-third were rejected or never heard back.

Immigrants are valued members of society, and the exclusion of certain immigrants undermines our economic recovery and public health. CAA believes that we are stronger when everyone in society gets the same chance to thrive and succeed. Email Senators Sinema and McSally today and demand a more inclusive recovery bill that provides health access and economic relief to everyone. 

Children's Action Alliance welcomes our newest board members

 

Ashley M. Anderson, SHRM-SCP, Mountain Park Health Center

Ashley M. Anderson currently serves as a Senior Human Resource Business Partner in Phoenix, Arizona. She brings over eight years of Human Resources experience working in various industries to the board. Her expertise spans across Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, Training and Development, and more. She also consults with business owners and entrepreneurs on their Human Resources needs. In addition, Ashley sits on the Board of the National Association for African Americans in Human Resources, State of Arizona Chapter. Ashley holds an MBA with emphasis in Management from American Intercontinental University as well as the Senior Certified Professional Certification from the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM).

 
 
Catherine Alonzo, CEO and founding partner of Javelina

Catherine Alonzo is CEO and founding partner of Javelina, a branding and advocacy agency that is advancing equality and human dignity through social, political, and economic change. Javelina helps their clients realize their vision of change in the world through cutting edge strategies from the worlds of marketing and political campaigns.

Catherine has been integral in growing Javelina to be one of the Valley’s pre-eminent branding and advocacy agencies. She combines her political background (having served on the teams that raised the Arizona minimum wage in 2016 and elected Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell) with her passion for storytelling in the digital age.

Catherine was named the Athena Young Professional Recipient by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce in 2016 and has been recognized for her business leadership by Arizona Business Magazine, Arizona Big Media, and the Phoenix Business Journal.
 
D’Angelo Johnson, Managing VP of Private Banking at Bankers Trust
D’Angelo is Managing, VP, of Private Banking at Bankers Trust, with 18 years of financial services experience. He began his career as a Realtor and Financial Independent Contractor. As a licensed real estate agent, mortgage certified professional, life (including fixed-investments), credit and disability insurance agent,  he joined the bank in 2007 as a Consumer Services Representative and became a Relationship Banker in 2008. D’Angelo joined the bank’s Financial Intelligence team in 2014 as a Certified BSA/AML professional, where he helped protect the bank and its customers against illicit activity. He has served as a board member, Director of Finance, and written grants for non-profits in the Greater Des Moines area.
 
Erica Maxwell, Associate Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Arizona Department of Education

As the first Associate Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Arizona Department of Education, Ms. Erica Maxwell has more than 25 years as a certified educator. In her education tenure, Maxwell has served as an administrator, adjunct faculty member at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and as a faculty associate at Arizona State University.

Maxwell is also the co-founder of the annual Arizona Multicultural Education Conference and founder of Club READ (Reading Experiences Appreciating Diversity), which is a summer literacy initiative in Chandler. In addition to her educational equity consulting work, she hosted public forums for the Arizona State University’s Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, as well as for the Arizona Department of Education; Healing Racism Series, Mesa Community College Educators Academy, Scottsdale’s Cross-Cultural Communication Series and the Seventh Annual Future Educator’s Conference. Lastly, Maxwell served on the Board of Trustees for Childsplay and was the School Administrator Representative for Southeast Maricopa County’s First Things First Regional Council.

Recognized for her community involvement and excellence in education, Maxwell received the 2017 Literacy Leadership Award from the Ocotillo East Reading Council, the 2016 Outstanding Adjunct Award from Chandler-Gilbert Community College and the 2015 East Valley NAACP Education Advocacy Award.
 
Kim Russell, Executive Director of the Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care

Kim Russell is of the Bitter Water People, born for the Tangle People. Her maternal grandmothers are from Chinle, Arizona and her paternal grandmothers are from Tuba City, Arizona on the Navajo Nation. Ms. Russell is the Executive Director of the Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care, an independent state agency whose mission is to advocate for increasing access to high-quality health care programs for all American Indians in Arizona. Kim has worked with Tribes, Tribal Organizations, the Indian Health Service, and Urban Indian Health Programs to advance their health agendas and priorities her entire career. Ms. Russell received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master’s of Health Administration. Kim enjoys spending time with family and traveling.