A Landscape Analysis of Challenges and Opportunities In partnership with LISC Phoenix, MPW Consulting completed the research, key informant interviews, focus groups and report from August 2021-August 2022.

Regardless of where a child receives care—a licensed center, a certified home, or with a family, friend, or neighbor—their brains are developing rapidly from birth to five, so it is critical that the space be safe, inclusive, and support learning. Stabilization grants have enabled facilities to stay open, pay the mortgage/rent, keep utilities on, purchase required personal protective equipment, pay off debt incurred since March 2020, and increase staff salaries and benefits temporarily. Yet, we still face challenges where parents cannot afford quality care, and providers continue to see the cost of quality care and staffing increase. Opportunities exist for Arizona to leverage this last year of pandemic funding to deepen partnerships and collaborations leading to more accessible data for parents and providers to make informed decisions as well as invest in the infrastructure of child care that will sustain beyond the grant dollars. Read the Executive Summary and the full Child Care and Early Learning Landscape Analysis.

Welcome to the Arizona Nutrition and Physical Activity (AZ SNUPA) Action Plan System Map! This Map represents the ecosystem around the 2023 AZ SNUPA Action Plan and workgroups. The Social Systems Map was developed as an outcome of the action planning process which contributed to the development of the three-year plan and provided a visual representation of the current ecosystem engaged in the work. The map will be live with continued input and interaction through the end of the Action Plan implementation in early 2026.

In Arizona and around the U.S., a growing number of school districts are transforming their schools into trauma sensitive environments and taking deliberate steps to become both safe havens for all students and safe working environments for all school staff. This report provides a glimpse into the current state of trauma informed policies and practices in schools throughout Arizona and presents recommendations to further advance supportive education environments. Information gathered from education leaders provide insights to promoting effective trauma sensitive schools in Arizona. What comes through clearly from those leading the way in Arizona is that this work hinges on recognizing and supporting all staff in focusing on developing relationships with students, families and the community. The areas of greatest need are increased opportunities and designated time to learn about trauma, cultivate meaningful relationships, develop and implement district and school- wide action plans, as well as increase support for staff well-being. Read more about Trauma Sensitive Schools, including the full report.

Kinship care parity for children affected by incarceration. While participating in the Women's Foundation of Alabama's Women’s Policy Institute Fellowship, Dr. Melanie Mitros worked collaboratively with Sarah Abrahams, Holly Glasgow, Kendra Jones, Dr. Brandi Shah, Ashley Williams, and Ada Katherine van Wyhe to develop a campaign roadmap to advocate for and implement effective systems for kinship care of children separated from incarcerated mothers. We developed the roadmap to optimize systems for kinship care parity to effectively support, stabilize, and strengthen children and families experiencing separation through maternal incarceration. Read the policy roadmap (P)repairing for Reunification: Kinship care parity for children affected by incarceration.