Prevent Child Abuse Arizona's (PCA Arizona) mission is to prevent the abuse and neglect of Arizona's children. We are a private, non-profit agency providing training, advocacy, program development and public awareness to both public and private agencies, policy makers and funders.

Our current projects include:

Yavapai Family Advocacy Center
For the past nine years, though a multidisciplinary, coordinated, professional team process, the Yavapai Family Advocacy Center has provided crisis intervention, information and community referrals, as well as follow-up services to child or adult victims of abuse, neglect, domestic violence or sexual assault.

The Advocacy Center’s facility provides an immediate access (24/7) to allied professionals, including Child Protective Services, Law Enforcement, behavioral health, medical and victim advocates reducing trauma to the victim and their families, while insuring a thorough investigation and prosecution. The Center supports all aspects of an initial investigation conducted in one location, eliminating the re-traumatization of the victim by removing the need to tell their story multiple times.

The consequences of child abuse, which often last a lifetime, are greatly minimized through the use of the Advocacy Center and the staff’s emphasis on restoring the family to a healthy unit with safety parameters that minimize the chance of re-victimization. As an efficient and effective response to crime, forensic interviews are conducted at the Center by Law Enforcement and Child Protective Service professionals, in addition to forensic medical examinations and case management, thereby assisting the County Attorney’s office with aggressive prosecution and conviction.

Never Shake a Baby Arizona
In many hospitals throughout the state, nurses educate new parents about calming crying and the dangers of shaking babies before families go home with their newborn. This year, 24,000 new parents will be provided this life-saving information, proven to reduce shaken baby syndrome by 47 percent. Funded by grants from the Arizona Child Abuse Prevention License Plate Program/Arizona Republic, BHHS Legacy Foundation, and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

Join us in PREVENTING the abuse and neglect of our nation's children.

Download the PCA America Brochure to see how you can help.

Prevent Child Abuse Arizona's Staff

Rebecca Ruffner, Executive Director

Tina Vanderpool, Director of Finance & Operations

Trish Gray, Executive Assistant

Juanita Wesley, Bookkeeper

Pam Mason, Director, Yavapai Family Advocacy Center

Elizabeth Drown, Administrative Assistant, Yavapai Family Advocacy Center

Laura Garcia, Victim Advocate, Yavapai Family Advocacy Center

Ellen Larson, Victim Advocate, Yavapai Family Advocacy Center

Prevent Child Abuse Arizona's                              Board of Directors