Arizona’s Children Association announces new President and CEO Denise Ensdorff

Ingrid Novodvorsky, chair of the Board of Directors of Arizona's Children Association (AzCA) is pleased to announce the selection of Denise Ensdorff as the agency’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. Denise accepted the role of Interim President and CEO, previously held by Michael Coughlin, on October 1, 2012. In December, the Board voted to place Denise in the role of President and CEO.

Denise most recently served as Arizona’s Children Association’s Senior Vice President and Director of Behavioral Health programs. She has worked for Arizona’s Children Association since 2007.

Denise Ensdorff has been in the field of behavioral health since 1985. Prior to her tenure with Arizona’s Children Association, she lived in Colorado where she worked in a residential and day treatment center for children, as well as with an Employee Assistance Program.

“Few agencies in Arizona have such a vast and remarkable history as Arizona’s Children Association and we believe that Denise Ensdorff is the best fit to lead us into the next century of providing services,” stated Ingrid Novodvorsky. “Denise is a long-time AzCA staff member who brings enthusiasm, skill, and dedication to her position and we are confident about the future of the agency with the leadership of Denise and the executive management team that we have in place.”

Gifts of Hope Kick-Off

For many Arizonans, despite difficult financial times, the best way to celebrate the holidays includes supporting children and families in their community who are in need. Over the years, donors from across the state have participated in the annual Arizona's Children Association "Gifts of Hope" program.

Arizona's Children Association invites you to bring your organization, office or family together to celebrate the holidays with a “Gift of Hope” for children and families who need your help. Our ‘needs’ list is long and includes the wishes of children from birth to 18 years, and requests from their parents for groceries and grocery gift certificates.

The families we work with do not receive any other help during the holiday season. Individuals, groups and families are needed to participate and bring hope to the vulnerable children and families we serve.

There are two ways to give:

~ Sponsor a child, multiple children or an entire family. Purchase groceries or grocery store gift certificates and grant the gift wishes of the child(ren).

~ Conduct a toy drive. Collect toys and items for children and we’ll pick them up and distribute them to the children and families we serve. Toys are needed for children of all ages.

To give a “Gift of Hope” this holiday season, visit www.arizonaschildren.org/giftsofhope
or call 800.944.7611 ext. 2111.

Arizona’s Children Association Receives Federal Grant to Address the Unique Needs of Kinship Caregivers

Kinship care has been a nationally-growing phenomenon for the last decade. Kinship caregivers are those who are raising the children of a relative, often in an effort to keep a child out of traditional foster care when the biological parent is unable to care for the child. According to the US Census Bureau, more than six million children -- approximately 1 in 12 children -- are living in households headed by grandparents or other relatives. In Arizona, there are more than 114,000 households headed by grandparents or other relatives currently caring for one or more relative children.

Research indicates that children in kinship care experience greater stability than those in foster care. Currently, many kinship families are not documented or are poorly tracked in the child welfare system and therefore do not receive the support and resources that would help them create more stability for their household. Through kinship care support, Arizona’s Children Association’s Kinship, Adoption, Resource and Education (KARE) program has worked for years to empower the community to embrace and sup¬port these very special families and their potential to provide a positive alternative to traditional foster care.

Arizona’s Children Association was recently awarded a federal grant, “Family Connection Child Welfare/TANF Collaboration in Kinship Navigation Programs” funded through the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau, to continue working with kinship families and to further grow the program in Pinal and Cochise Counties over the next three years.

The overall goal of the grant will be to improve services for children being raised by kinship care providers by assisting caregivers in meeting their family’s need, promoting public/private partnerships to meet those needs and increase safety, permanency and well being of youth in kinship care. The grant award for the Kinship Navigator will specifically allow Arizona’s Children Association (AzCA) to expand our KARE services in Maricopa and Pima counties and open up KARE facilities in Pinal and Cochise counties. AzCA Kinship KARE teams will focus on the same services and programs currently being utilized at our two KARE centers and also improve the kinship family’s experience with the child welfare system. This program will work with families in need by helping them navigate various systems through support, advocacy, education, and legal services.

Through this program, Arizona’s Children Association aims to impact system change for kinship caregivers and prove that Arizona has the need for long term federal funding, through the Administration for Children Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau, to continue to provide sustainable kinship services that promote safe and healthy homes for children being is raised in out of home care. To learn more about KARE, visit www.arizonaschildren.org/KAREcenter.


Funded through the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
Children and Families, Children's Bureau, Grant #HHS-2012-ACF-ACYF-CF-0510.
The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the funders. This information is in the public domain. Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit Arizona’s Children Association.

Bright Choices Parenting

New Directions Institute, with funding through First Things First, has recently been granted the opportunity to expand their community-based parenting education program. The comprehensive program called “Bright Choices Parenting” combines support from two First Things First geographic areas of Central Maricopa and Southeast Maricopa to reach out to more families than ever before. The program has proven itself on a smaller scale over the last three years and has been very successful. With this new funding, the program will now reach all of the communities of Tempe, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Guadalupe, Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek.

“Bright Choices Parenting” is a comprehensive program that combines a variety of NDI curriculum and workshops with community resources. The cornerstone institution approach includes reaching out to parents through a variety of venues including hospitals, libraries, schools, community centers and faith-based venues. Through these venues the program includes an array of parenting classes, Brain Time classes, Wired for Success workshops, KinderPrep classes and community resources.

In addition, two new courses have been added to this project. The first is an evidence-based “Nurturing Parenting” program that emphasizes learning through discussion and sharing. The program also has strong links to community resources as every session incorporates experts from the community to share information on resources. The “Nurturing Parenting” project is in collaboration with Child & Family Resources, in an effort to reach out to new audiences in new community areas. The series are ten weeks each and will be offered fifteen times at multiple locations throughout the geographic area.

The second new course “S.T.E.P.S. Plus” is based on NDI curriculum and utilizes their traditional S.T.E.P.S. curriculum (Security, Touch, Eyes, Play, Sound) with additional emphasis on gender, discipline, music and executive functions (impulse control).

To learn more about program offerings in your area, visit www.newdirectionsinstitute.org or call 602.371.1366. Child care is available during some class times.

Arizona’s Children Association announces Interim President/CEO and new Chief Development Officer

The board of directors of Arizona’s Children Association has named Denise Ensdorff as Interim President and CEO. Denise accepted the role, previously held by Michael Coughlin, on October 1, 2012.

Denise most recently served as Arizona’s Children Association’s Senior Vice President and Director of Behavioral Health programs. She has worked for Arizona’s Children Association since 2007.

Denise Ensdorff has been in the field of behavioral health since 1985. Prior to her tenure with Arizona’s Children Association, she lived in Colorado where she worked in a residential and day treatment center for children, as well as with an Employee Assistance Program.

The board has also announced the promotion of Becky Holton to the position of Chief Development Officer. Becky has been with Arizona’s Children Association Development and Marketing Department since 2007. She has been in the nonprofit field for more than 12 years, working in program administration and in fundraising/communications. Before joining Arizona’s Children Association, Becky worked in the Chicago area, leading development departments for both national affiliates and local organizations.

“We’re excited about the future of the agency with the leadership of the executive management team that we have in place,” stated Ruth Osuna, Arizona’s Children Association board chair. “Both Denise and Becky are long-time AzCA staff members who bring enthusiasm, skill, and dedication to their new posts.”

The board is currently undertaking a national search to fill the permanent President/CEO position.

In Memory: John Boemer

A little more than 18 years ago, Arizona’s Children Association (AzCA) was fortunate enough to recruit John Boemer to its statewide Board of Directors.

The mission of the agency is statewide and all board members embrace that mission, but each of those members comes from a particular part of the state and for them their “home” has special meaning. For John, home was the city of Yuma and Yuma County.

In 2005, John received the “Heart of Yuma” award from the Yuma Community Foundation in the category of “Outstanding Benefactor.” John has served on many civic, business and charitable organization boards over the years. Many of these organizations provide support to economically and medically challenged families and individuals within the community. John was well-known in the community for his continued willingness to volunteer his time and financial resources to improve the lives of children and families in the community.

John Boemer was one of major driving forces behind the many successes of Arizona’s Children Association. John Boemer has always embraced every opportunity to give back to the community he values and respects. With John and the other board members, the agency grew to one which now serves more than 46,000 children and families annually in every county of our state. Early on in his Board tenure, John decided to hold an annual golf tournament to raise money for the work that AzCA carries out for the children and families of Yuma. To date, 16 annual tournaments have raised a total of more than $500,000!

While all of this transpired, John was also engaged in a battle with a very debilitating physical illness that eventually confined him to a wheel chair and ultimately shortened his life. As difficult as that was, John never missed a golf tournament, including the one that was held this past May. He fought this fight with great courage and stamina and grace.

John recently passed away, but his energy, commitment and courage will always be part of the AzCA legacy and will live on in the work of the Agency and in the children and families that are served.

Thank you, John, for giving all of us the opportunity to work with you, and for your great and inspiring leadership. You will remain in our hearts forever.

-The Board and Staff of Arizona's Children Association

eegee’s 20th Annual Fundraising campaign raises a record-breaking $240,000 for Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault

In early May, eegee's announced that the beneficiary of their 20th anniversary coupon card program would be the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA), a member of Arizona’s Children Association family of agencies. The goal, set by eegee’s, was to beat last year’s fundraising return of just over $200,000 and they surpassed their goal by thousands. This last Monday, the President and Director of Operations for eegee’s presented SACASA staff with a check in the amount of $240,181.

The coupon booklet program is held each year during the month of June when eegee's customers are invited to support a local not-for-profit organization. In appreciation of each $7 donation a customer makes, eegee's provides the customer with a booklet of eegee’s coupons valued at up to $72.

The Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA) offers a wide-range of services that extend to both primary and secondary victims and survivors of recent and past sexual assault. In addition, SACASA implements awareness and prevention programs in schools throughout Southern Arizona.

For more than 40 years, eegee's has set an example to the community, their employees and customers in the area of social and environmental responsibility. This year celebrates the 20th year of the coupon card program.

"eegee's has never been more proud of our customers for giving a record amount of donations this year to SACASA,” said Robert Jensen, eegee’s President. “For 20 years, our customers have been giving generously through the coupon card program to local organizations serving those in need. During these difficult economic times, their donations and support to SACASA are just one example of the wonderful partnership between eegee's, our loyal customers and the community."

“We’re thrilled that SACASA was chosen for this campaign and this financial support of our crisis and mental health services will make a significant in our local community,” said Michael Coughlin, Arizona’s Children Association and family of agencies president and CEO, “eegee’s has gone above and beyond to support their local community and we greatly appreciate their commitment to making a difference.”

For more information about SACASA, visit www.sacasa.org. For more information about eegee's or to find the store nearest you, visit www.eegees.com.

Photo, left to right: Robert Jensen, eegee’s President; Michael Coughlin, Arizona’s Children Association President; Montserrat Caballero, SACASA Director and Dom Scala, eegee’s Director of Operations