From Susie Huhn

Executive Director

 It is an exciting, rewarding, confusing, frustrating time for many of us here at Casa de los Niños. On one hand, our two newest programs – Nurse-Family Partnership and Raising Healthy Kids – are really beginning to make a difference in the lives of at-risk mothers. We are also getting ready to launch a new initiative that will lead to behavior health care for foster children throughout Pima County. 

 These efforts are hugely important. All three are going well, but our enthusiasm is tempered when we see the storm clouds gathering over Phoenix.

 We know that the Arizona State Legislature is wrestling with what could become a budget catastrophe, both this year and next. We know that something will have to give. And as we look into the faces of the children we serve, we can only hope that our lawmakers will not abandon the at-risk children of Arizona.

 Last February, the Legislature imposed massive budget cuts on DES. Those cuts soon trickled down to Casa de los Niños and other local agencies serving kids. Should major cuts be ordered again this year, we would be gravely effected.

 The Legislature is also considering another measure that would damage Casa de los Niños. Lawmakers may ask voters to rescind several voter-mandated programs. One of those is First Things First, which collects tobacco settlement dollars and re-distributes them to agencies serving children.   

 First Things First funds our Nurse-Family Partnership program and our Raising Healthy Kids program. They are budgeted at $1.6 million this year alone. If this funding stream goes away, there is no way our agency can operate them with the resources we would have left.

 Twelve months ago, several state legislators said they did not realize how many families would suffer due to the cuts they had imposed. Hopefully, our lawmakers understand the consequences of the alternatives they are weighing now.

  In Phoenix, our elected officials see numbers. At Casa de los Niños, we see faces. We hope you will keep these children in mind as the budget process continues to unfold this spring.

 Thanks again for caring, and for sharing with Casa de los Ninos!