Mercy C.A.R.E.S. has awarded Child Crisis Arizona a 2024 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant in the amount of $327,000. The grant will help furnish and equip the Child Crisis Arizona Center for Child and Family Wellness, a 38,000-square-foot, 2.4-acre campus set to open this fall in Mesa. This expansion will bring the organization’s foster care, adoption, counseling, family education into one space, and enable Child Crisis Arizona to co-locate six nonprofits onsite to collaborate and provide vital support services to children and families.
“The new facility will allow Child Crisis Arizona to increase organizational capacity, enhance social support, and promote social programs that positively impact the mental health and well-being of our clients and community,” said Torrie A. Taj, chief executive officer of Child Crisis Arizona.
According to Taj, the new campus will feature rooms and spaces that will be used by at least six collaborating nonprofits to primarily serve foster and low-income children and families and families in crisis, as well as the surrounding community. It will also allow the agency to centralize operations and to co-locate currently dispersed programs, including family education, foster care and adoption, and counseling.
“In addition, funding will support the Resource Distribution Center, which distributes free basic need items and clothing to children, youth and families in crisis, as well as a youth counseling center, community partner hubs, technology center, dance and music studio, Safe Kids Car Seat Safety Station, and more,” said Taj. “We project that, with the new space, we will be able to serve 3,000 additional individuals in the first year of operation.”
Mercy C.A.R.E.S., which stands for Community Action Resources Education and Service, is Mercy Care’s community giving initiative. Through grant funding, sponsorships, volunteer efforts and board participation, Mercy C.A.R.E.S. supports AHCCCS’ Whole Person Care Initiative, which addresses social risk factors to improve health outcomes.
“This project will create greater access for children and families in crisis and offer so many vital services under one roof. As an organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Arizonans, and particularly those who are underserved with complex health needs, we are happy to partner with Child Crisis Arizona in making a positive impact on our community,” said Trisha Stuart, Mercy Care director of community relations.
Since 1977, Mesa-based Child Crisis Arizona has served vulnerable children and families in Arizona and is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect through education and intervention. They offer emergency shelter and residential care for children and youth from birth to 21 and offers foster care and adoption services, early education as well community-wide parenting classes, workshops, support groups and much more. Child Crisis Arizona has positively impacted nearly 136,000 children and families since its inception. Visit childcrisisaz.org to learn more.
