SOUTHERN ARIZONA NONPROFITS UNITE TO BUILD FUTURES FOR FAMILIES
(Tucson, Arizona) Arizona Youth Partnership (AzYP) has launched a new program supported by a recent grant of $634,546 from the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families-Office of Family Assistance. Building Futures for Families will empower youth and families in rural, underserved communities in Pima, Pinal and Gila counties to remove barriers to economic self-sufficiency. Many families find themselves overwhelmed in the midst of financial crisis struggling to keep safe housing, reliable transportation, and food in the pantry. “It is during these times when families are more likely to face family conflict, divorce, and fragmentation that profoundly affect children and youth,” states AzYP Executive Director, Daniel Stoltzfus.
AzYP, in partnership with Interfaith Community Services and Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, will provide low-income families with access to job and career development services, financial literacy education, relationship education and compassionate case managers. “Collaborating in the 'Building Futures for Families' project is giving us important tools to fulfill our mission and meet our strategic goals,” said ICS Executive Director Bonnie Kampa. “The project is strengthening our ICS Resource Centers, which help families achieve economic stability with skills that focus on both present and future financial needs." Building Futures for Families promotes economic self-sufficiency for families and works to break the cycles of generational poverty through a combination of family strengthening programs and job/career development services. “We hope to mobilize community resources in Pima, Pinal and Gila Counties that will move families from economic crisis to economic stability,” Stoltzfus announced.
Approximately 500 individuals will be served by Building Futures for Families including across the Central and Southern Arizona region of Pima (Tucson), Pinal (Florence/Casa Grande), and Gila (Globe) Counties. The connection between healthy marriage and economic stability is clear--unemployment and underemployment directly impact marriage formation, relationship success and satisfaction, divorce rates, child outcomes, mortality rates, and use of public benefits. “Combining relationship strengthening workshops and support to help people achieve gainful, fulfilling employment makes so much sense”, confirms Traci Gruenberger, the Senior Vice President of Program Development & Operations for Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. “The pairing will help more families become financially stable; helping them to stay together which ultimately leads to better outcomes for their children.”
Families interested in learning more about Building Futures for Families can call (520) 744-9595 in Pima County or (928) 425-9276 in Gila or Pinal County for more information.
