Save the Date: 28th CAP Conference July 18-20, 2022
Call for workshops coming soon
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Highlight
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona Receives $60,000 to Improve Outcomes for Substance-Exposed Newborns and their Families
When a pregnant person struggles with substance use, they can feel isolated and overwhelmed. Due to stigma or fear, they may not seek help. However, to achieve the best possible outcomes for both babies and their families, it is vitally important to offer nonjudgmental, compassionate support to substance-using expectant parents as early as possible.
Through the Safe, Healthy Infants and Families Thrive (SHIFT) initiative, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona aims to improve the health and safety of prenatally substance-exposed newborns by connecting their families to support. SHIFT coordinates a network of committed partners that deliver family-centered services and reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder and pregnancy. Network partners work with parents to create a road map for recovery, prenatal care, and establishing safe homes.
The goals of SHIFT are to ensure early identification of prenatal substance exposure, reduce time-to-service engagement for parents and infants, increase cross-system coordination, and keep families safely together.
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona (PCA Arizona), which currently leads a SHIFT pilot project in Yavapai County and co-leads a project in Maricopa County, was recently awarded a total of $60,000 in funding through a grant from Prevent Child Abuse America and another from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona to continue and expand SHIFT in the state.
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Impact Story
First SHIFT Baby Born
One important goal of SHIFT is to safely reduce out-of-home placements for newborns. Current Arizona law requires medical providers who find evidence of substances in a newborn baby’s system to report this finding to the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Last fiscal year, the Arizona Department of Child Safety received nearly 5,000 hotline reports with the tracking characteristic of substance-exposed newborns. This number is 36% higher than it was five years ago.
Last month, the first baby of a SHIFT-enrolled family in Yavapai County was born. The mother had enrolled in the program earlier that month, receiving her safety planning materials and connecting with family service providers just a few weeks before her baby arrived.
“It was reported the baby did not have signs of neonatal abstinence [symptoms of newborn substance withdrawal],” shared a provider working closely with the mother. “The patient reports that she will stay on the SHIFT program until complete and was very thankful for the support that it gave her. It prepared her for the DCS investigation that she would not have been prepared for otherwise.”
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Advocacy
If passed, the Build Back Better Act would make revolutionary strides in child abuse and neglect prevention. Prevent Child Abuse America and Prevent Child Abuse Arizona support its proposed historic investments in the long-term well-being of families and children:
- Affordable, high-quality childcare
- Universal preschool
- The Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Paid family & medical leave
Read more about why we stand by these policies. Then let your local representatives know that you support them too!
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Today in Prevention
Advancing Agendas and Routing Relief: A 50-State Progress Report
The Alliance for Early Success released its 2021 50-State Progress Report on Early Childhood Policy. Refer to page 26 to read about some of the Arizona wins for parents and children. Then scan the information about other states and ponder the possibilities for Arizona.
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Fundraising
Thank You for your Continued Support
This year, our supporters raised over $57,000 during our End of Year campaign! This generosity is largely due to organizations like the Geo Secure Services of the Central Arizona Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility, Cliff Castle Casino, Arizona Christian Church, and Fann Employees Making a Difference! Donations also came from generous individual donors like you. Because of you, we can continue broadening our reach and partnerships to build protective factors that give parents and children a promising future in 2022 and beyond!
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Director's Corner
The Power of Presence
By Claire Louge, Executive Director
Preventing child abuse is about strengthening families. It’s about ensuring families have what they need to nurture their children.
When a parent is able to afford rent, that’s prevention. When a parent is able to access substance abuse treatment in their area, that’s prevention. When a receptionist at a family resource center greets a young mom with a welcoming smile, that’s prevention. When a dad drops his baby off at a safe, quality child care center so he can go to work, that’s prevention.
Having an attitude of prevention – one that is compassionate, supportive and non-judgmental towards parents and families - is free and can be exhibited by anyone. But the supports and services that create a robust prevention system require a financial investment.
Oftentimes, it’s the cost of providing these resources – including expanding economic supports like expanding the Child Tax Credit, making quality child care financially accessible for families, guaranteeing paid family leave, and other benefits included in the Build Back Better Act, that is used as the argument against investing in prevention. But the discussion shouldn’t be about whether or not we should offer families resources. The discussion should be about how much we are willing to tolerate child abuse and neglect and pay for its consequences.
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As a 501(c)3 organization, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is eligible to receive bequests. Please contact Molly Peterson at molly@pcaaz.org if you would like to discuss including
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona in your legacy.
Tax ID #86-0832901
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona can only accept donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations located in the State of Arizona.
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Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is dedicated to strengthening families and protecting children through collaboration, education, and advocacy. The organization provides research-based prevention services, education and training to help promote strong families and safe, healthy children. For more information, visit pcaaz.org.
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