All children deserve to grow up without fear but today, children in immigrant families are being denied this.

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, leaders of Arizona organizations who serve and focus on children and youth joined a press call to share firsthand accounts of how the federal government’s mass deportation agenda is harming children and immigrant families across the state. Speakers detailed how current policies are tearing families apart, creating a chilling effect in communities, and undermining public safety. 

“There’s a sense of brutality to the immigration enforcement taking place right now that has no place in our country, and that we want to keep very, very far away from children, said January Contreras, Executive Director, Children’s Action Alliance “We used to have immigration enforcement that honored sensitive zones – they didn’t go to K-12 schools, healthcare facilities, churches, or social service providers. Now, these spaces are all fair game, and parents and children live in fear of what will happen to them. Keep in mind, 93% of children in Arizona were born in the United States, so these are often mixed-status families. All children deserve safety – the current mode of immigration enforcement denies that to many young children in our state.”

Gladis Molina, Executive Director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, shared: "Witnessing the federal government's response in immigrant communities – the National Guard deployment, the war machinery, the agents in masks – triggers memories of what I witnessed as a child during the Civil War in El Salvador. Across Arizona's vulnerable immigrant communities, kids are experiencing this trauma firsthand. They'll carry these memories for a lifetime,”

Carolina Silva, Executive Director of Scholarships A-Z, explained the fear in schools: “Immediately after the election, we saw students stop showing up to school altogether due to fear of deportation. One of these students, “Leilani,” is a star pupil in Tucson – but the silence after the election told her she wasn’t safe. She did not return to school until her district leadership sent a message confirming their commitment to all students, regardless of immigration status."

This is not normal. And it's harming Arizona's children.

Learn more about what's happening:

• ICE activity growing around Valley schools
• Courts halt removal of 53 Guatemalan children from Arizona
• Immigration raid fears trigger Latino student absences
• AAP leaders: Children are bearing consequences of immigration enforcement

Children’s Action Alliance is proud to be the KIDS COUNT ® partner in Arizona to the Annie E Casey Foundation. In this role, we dive into the data that tells us how children are faring in areas like health coverage, hunger, economic security, education, and more. We hope community leaders and members across Arizona can use this data to help tackle challenges and uplift successes for children in their own communities.

Earlier this year, we published the Arizona KIDS COUNT Data Book based on data available as late as 2024. We share this resource so you can learn what share of children in your county live with families who afford groceries with help from SNAP,  lack health insurance, or are graduating from high school within four years. This information is provided to inform and support the work in your community!

This year, in addition to publishing the book, Children’s Action Alliance also kicked off a State of Kids Roadshow to use Arizona’s KIDS COUNT data to gather local leaders and providers together to center children and what the data tells us. All who came brought their own stories of what they see, what they’re proud of that is happening for kids, and what concerns they feel need to be urgently addressed. The roadshow was powerful in combining data driven information with local voices and people of action.

We are proud to have partnered and gathered with so many committed leaders in Arizona’s local communities. We thank our co-hosts and all who attended and made these gatherings meaningful in the following counties:

Coconino County – United Way of Northern Arizona 

Maricopa County – Valley of the Sun United Way 

Pima County – United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona 

Mohave County – First Things First La Paz/Mohave Region 

Yuma County – Regional Center for Border Health, Inc and First Things First Yuma Region 

We also thank the organizations featured in leadership spotlights in the Arizona KIDS COUNT Data Book: Pascua Yaqui Tribe,  Regional Center for Border Health,  Santa Cruz County Family Resource Centers, and the United Way of Northern Arizona. 

Finally, we thank our State of Kids Roadshow Sponsor Mercy Care for being a part of each of these events and making the roadshow possible!

It's all about building an Arizona that is committed to thriving children and families. Visit these resources yourself to strengthen our collective advocacy:

Arizona KIDS COUNT Data Book – Find indicators for children in Arizona by county

2025 KIDS COUNT Data Profile for Arizona – Find Arizona national ranking on child economic well-being

2025 National KIDS COUNT Data Book – A national look at state trends in child well-being

National KIDS COUNT Data Center – Find indicators for the nation, state, and more

The 2025 Families First Forum is almost here, happening Monday, November 3, 2025, at South Mountain Community College. 

This annual, half-day convening brings together advocates, policymakers, and community leaders to learn the latest on factors impacting the state and federal budget, and policy changes impacting the lives of Arizona’s children and families. 

We’re honored to feature two national voices who will help set the stage for this year’s discussion: 

Alberto A. González, Jr., MPP
Deputy Senior Director, State Government Relations – Families USA
Alberto provides strategic leadership for Families USA’s state-level advocacy efforts. He previously served as Chief Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), leading major expansions in health and nutrition assistance programs. His career spans roles at UnidosUS, Community Catalyst, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) and the California State Assembly. 

Katie Hamm, MPA
Principal – Next Step Early Childhood LLC
Katie is the former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, she served as Vice President for Early Childhood Policy at the Center for American Progress and worked at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget on budget and policy issues related to human services programs. 

It’s a time for us to stay informed and to work collaboratively. Please join us - and please share this invitation with colleagues and networks who may be interested.

Our hearts are full of joy from sharing a meal in community while celebrating our extraordinary honorees. We are so thankful to everyone who helped make the 2025 Champions for Children Awards Luncheon a remarkable success. Whether you attended, sponsored, donated, or supported us, your contribution fuels our mission. 

To those who attended, thank you for your presence and dedication to supporting our work to strengthen Arizona for children and families. 

Congratulations again to our 2025 Champions!

Thank you to our Leadership Honorees: 

• Victoria Gray, Gray Nickel
• Claire Louge, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona
• Jessica Rivera-Garcia, Arizona Head Start Association
• Dr. Eric Schindler
• Vitalyst Foundation

In addition, we are proud to honor:

• Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor of the Gila River Indian Community, as our Jacquee Steiner Public Official of the Year 
• Honorable Mary Rose Wilcox, former city council member and county supervisor, as the Lifetime Achievement Honoree. 

We were honored to celebrate their commitment to service, unwavering leadership, and lasting impact on the lives of families and children across Arizona. 

Our sincere gratitude to our incredible sponsors. Their support is foundational to this gathering and to our ability to carry out our mission. 

Big shoutout to Los Mariachi Tigres de Tolleson and their director, Dr. Casillas. for kicking off our event for a second year in a row. What a talent! These elementary students have won awards and traveled the United States, captivating audiences in prestigious venues. We could not be more honored to have them perform at our event. 

Lastly, we are forever grateful to the amazing Tom McNamara for bringing joy to the stage as the Master of Ceremonies of our event! 

As we conclude our successful 2025 Champions for Children annual event, we feel honored and in gratitude to do this work alongside incredible change makers. United, we inspire change to build an Arizona where all children and families can thrive.

This week is dedicated to education and action as part of the national #CareNotCuts Week of Action. Please join us in taking action yourself. 

Enhanced Premium Tax Credits make health insurance affordable for more than 20 million people - helping families see a doctor, fill prescriptions, and avoid crushing medical debt. But instead of making the tax credits permanent earlier this year, Congress passed the biggest health care cuts in U.S. history. Now families are at risk of higher premiums, lost coverage, and more medical debt. 

Without Congressional action, the tax credits will end, and families with marketplace plans will quickly see skyrocketing health care premiums, forcing many to lose their health care. 

In 2025, nearly 425,000 Arizonans purchased health care through the ACA marketplace, and the vast majority of them utilized premium tax credits to make their premiums more affordable.This includes many who are self-employed or own small businesses.

This should not be a partisan issue in Congress. Majorities of Democrats (92%) and Republicans (59%) want Congress to extend these expiring tax credits. Congress should listen to the families they serve, not force them to lose their health care. It’s up to us to make sure our friends, family, neighbors, and members of Congress know what affordable health care means for us.

What can you do to take action today?

📲- Use social media with the hashtag #CareNotCuts to share this email or an article that explains how the end of enhanced premium tax credits will hurt Arizonans in their pocketbooks: 

• Arizona PBS: Arizona health insurance premiums to surge as tax credits end 
• KJZZ: Arizonans will see big price increases next year for ACA marketplace health plans 

📈💰 - Use the premium calculator to estimate how much more you would pay in premiums if the enhanced premium tax credits expire 

📝 - Share your story with a local news outlet, on social media, or with your elected officials to bring attention to why being able to afford health insurance impacts you. 

Let’s all stay informed and take action to preserve affordable health insurance premiums.

Every family and each Arizonan should be able to afford health coverage, regardless of their zip code or income. Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans have helped make this a reality for many.  

However, Congress must take action now to preserve the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTC’s) that make ACA plans affordable. Without immediate Congressional action, the tax credits will end, and low- and middle- income families with marketplace plans will quickly see skyrocketing health care premiums, forcing many to lose their health care.

In 2025, a record number of Arizonans, nearly 425,000, purchased health care through the ACA marketplace. Nearly 93% of enrollees also utilize premium tax credits, which make health care insurance more affordable. This includes many who are self-employed or own small businesses.

It’s important to understand the hit to a family’s budget if Congress fails to preserve these tax credits. Without the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, a family of four making $95,000 will see their annual premiums for a benchmark plan increase from $5,795 to $8,218. That is an increase of over $200 per month! Families cannot afford that type of increase.

Earlier this year, Congress made harmful changes and cuts in their 2025 budget reconciliation bill, formally titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, forcing insurers to increase premiums in anticipation of expected increases in uncompensated care. 

The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions projects the cost for Arizona marketplace plans will increase 2.5% to 55% for 2026.

No one should have to forgo medical treatment or take on medical debt because they cannot afford health insurance. Enhanced Premium Tax Credits are essential because they reduce those hard decisions that families and small business owners must make. With this option, a parent could afford both groceries and health care, a child can see a doctor when they’re sick, and a small business owner can stay insured without going broke.

Congress took care of our country’s highest earners with large tax cuts earlier this year. Congress should end the year by supporting the rest of us.

Ask Congress to act now to make the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits permanent to protect health care for Arizonans!

Each year, Children’s Action Alliance gathers the community to celebrate the amazing work happening for children and families in Arizona.

We are proud to introduce the 2025 Champions for Children extraordinary honorees:

Honorable Mary Rose Wilcox, Lifetime Achievement Award 

Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, Jacque Steiner Public Leadership Award

The Vitalyst Health Foundation, Organizational Leader Award

And we are proud to announce our 2025 Outstanding Leader Awardees:

On October 9, starting at 11:30 AM, we will honor their bold and unwavering leadership and advocacy for families and children in Arizona at the Champions for Children Luncheon.

We are thrilled to celebrate these exceptional individuals and share good food and company together as we celebrate wins, big and small, and strengthen our resolve and commitment to make Arizona’s children a priority.

Buy a ticket to join us to celebrate!

This September, in recognition of National Kinship Care Month, Children’s Action Alliance honors the more than 57,000 kinship caregivers in Arizona – grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and extended family members who have stepped up to care for children when parents cannot.

Kinship caregivers are a stabilizing force in children’s lives. They help preserve family ties, cultural identity, and community connection. Yet, too often, these families take on full-time caregiving responsibilities with little to no preparation, support, or access to critical services.

The Caregivers' Message Is Clear: They Need Support.

At a January 2025 Kinship Caregiver Forum hosted by Children’s Action Alliance and Seeds Community Center in Tucson, families shared the realities they face of legal barriers, financial strain, and emotional trauma. Rural caregivers emphasized the urgent need for local access to mental health services, therapy, and specialists.

Too often, families are forced to choose between legal guardianship and accessing essential benefits. This creates unnecessary instability for families already doing everything they can.

Kinship Care Is a Solution That Can be Strengthened with Public Investment

Kinship care is proven to be one of the most stable, supportive, and effective options for children who cannot remain with their parents. We must ensure that caregivers are not penalized for doing the right thing. That means:

• Expanding access to financial support so more families can meet the needs of and care for their grandchildren, siblings, or other relatives—without falling into financial hardship. Children’s Action Alliance will continue to advocate for the restoration of support for kinship caregivers who are also raising children outside of the DCS system.

• Prioritizing trauma-informed, community-based mental health services in rural areas—so children and caregivers can access the support they need close to home.

• Protecting essential benefits when families pursue legal permanency—so they can provide long-term stability without losing the support that makes caregiving possible.

• Increasing public investment in kinship navigator programs—so families can easily connect to vital services like school enrollment, health care, and legal support.

Investing in Kinship Care Is Investing in Arizona’s Future

Kinship caregivers are raising the next generation of Arizonans. Their resilience should be met with meaningful support – legally, financially, and emotionally. The good news is that Arizona children are being placed with kinship caregivers at a much higher rate than the national rate.

Let’s ensure more kinship caregivers can survive and thrive when they take on the special duty of stepping in to care for children. This month, and every month, Children’s Action Alliance stands with kinship families.