News

Celebrating Karen McLaughlin's Dedication to Arizona's Well-being!

We are grateful to Karen McLaughlin as she retires after dedicating her career to public service and the well-being of Arizonans. Karen began her career at Children’s Action Alliance (CAA) working on state budget and fiscal issues in July 2005 after having worked for the state of Arizona for 31 years. She worked for several state agencies including the Governor’s Office for Strategic Planning and Budgeting, Department of Health Services, Department of Revenue, and Arizona State University. Prior to retirement from State service, she was the Financial Services Administrator at the Department of Economic Security, overseeing the agency’s budget and fiscal work.

Karen was one of the original staff in the Arizona Center for Economic Progress when it was created in 2016. She helped create what is now Budget 101, an explanation of how Arizona state government is funded, how the funds are spent, and the implications of tax policy on everyday Arizonans. We invite you to share her Budget 101 with concerned citizens in her honor.

We will have a formal send-off for Karen coming up, but on her last official day we give her our great thanks for all that she has contributed to the people and State of Arizona.

Most Sincerely,

January Contreras

CEO and President

More News

Our State Budget Priorities

State law requires that Arizona pass a budget by June 30 of each year. As the clock ticks towards this deadline, Children’s Action Alliance continues to advocate for priorities that will help grow strong and healthy children in Arizona. We’ve laid out our priorities for children and families, and…

Take Action: Get Child Care Funding Across the Finish Line

Last year, Arizona failed to invest enough funding in the Child Care Assistance Program, and a waitlist was implemented for families seeking financial assistance to afford child care. Sadly, that waitlist has now reached over 5K children! Alleviating the child care waiting list is Children Action Alliance’s…

Bringing Awareness to Men’s Health and Mental Wellness This Father’s Day 

Father’s Day is more than just a time to celebrate the dads, grandfathers, and father figures in our lives—it’s also a timely reminder to spotlight men’s health and mental wellness.  Approximately 29%1 of men have no primary care doctor, and men die at higher rates than women from heart…