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Tribes seek foster care for kids in need, but strained resources lead some to group homes

"Fowler knows the foster and congregate care system well after spending time in a group home and later in a foster home in their middle teen years.

Fowler, 27, is a youth leader at Fostering Advocates Arizona, which is housed at and supported by Children’s Action Alliance to raise the voices of young adults who have experienced foster care.

"We know that youths that experience congregate care tend to have poorer outcomes in life," Fowler said. But, "If you place kiddos in a loving setting and put the work in to serve their needs, they will find success, they will find growth."

Arizona's plan to impose work requirements for Medicaid is moving along

"Creating barriers for adults to maintain health coverage will only hurt families by threatening their health and making it hard for them to get jobs and stay working while increasing administrative burdens on the state," wrote Jennifer Burns, director of government relations and health policy for the Phoenix-based Children's Action Alliance

Temporary Halt in Childcare Subsidy Program in Arizona

The Department of Economic Security (DES) acknowledges there is a backlog; the subsidy backlog only affects new applicants. During the pandemic, subsidies were in place as part of the COVID recovery plan, but without those subsidies, many parents and childcare centers cannot afford the cost of care.

Kyrstyn Paulat, Director of Early Learning and Education at Children’s Action Alliance, joined us to discuss the topic.

“Childcare is just not affordable for families. When we’re talking about what this expense means, infant-based care right now is upwards $14 to $15,000 a year,” Paulat said.

Last year, the CAA asked for $100 million in funding from the state, and that money became part of the governor’s budget. After budget negotiations, the program was given $12 million. That is the reason DES has re-instated the waitlist.

Proposed federal cuts could put free school meals at risk for nearly 150,000 Arizona kids

Kyrstyn Paulat is the director of early learning and education at Children’s Action Alliance, a nonprofit, non-partisan advocacy organization. She said 1 in 5 children in Arizona experience food insecurity and school meals help bridge the gap for many families.

Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego Answer Questions on Potential Medicaid Cuts

U.S. Senator Mark Kelly and U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego answer questions during a town hall moderated by January Contreras in Scottsdale on Medicaid cuts.

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.