u003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG-2169-scaled.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-11484u0022 src=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG-2169.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022225u0022 /u003eu003c/au003e u003ca href=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG-2170-scaled.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-11485u0022 src=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG-2170.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022225u0022 /u003eu003c/au003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eOn September 10 and 24 in Tucson Arizona, with the help of Lean On Me AZ Facilitator Sandi Cimino, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona had its first two Lean On Me AZ community forums. In the fall of 2020, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona hosted thirteen focus groups to discuss community-driven solutions to reducing parent stress. This created the impetus for the Lean On Me AZ toolkit, available at u003ca href=u0022https://www.pcaaz.org/leanonmeazu0022u003ewww.pcaaz.org/leanonmeazu003c/au003e. Lean On Me AZ is a project supported by Casey Family Programs. In 2021, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is expanding the conversation by engaging communities in communities Lean On Me AZ forums, which includes a brief presentation followed by a deep discussion on how community members can support and strengthen families in everyday ways.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003e The September 10 and 24 community forums were provided in partnership with 4Tucson, a faith-based community driven initiative to address systemic issues in Tucson. Attendees included foster parents, a woman mentoring local youth, a service dog trainer, a senior in high school, and an AmeriCorps VISTA, to name a few. When learning about the Lean on Me AZ tools, which are everyday actions to support parents, many attendees noticed a subtle shift as they identified some of their own biases concerning parents. Many of the individuals came from a youth and family serving sectors, and some identified that even when they are trying to help families, their actions can stem from assumptions. The Lean On Me AZ tools, based around the Strengthening Families Protective Factorsu003csupu003eTMu003c/supu003e, helped the group understand ways in which they can build trust with parents and create a culture of family support.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003e Lean On Me AZ will return to Southern Arizona and 4Tucson at the u003ca href=u0022https://www.4tucson.com/reclaiming-hope/u0022u003eReclaiming Hope Conferenceu003c/au003e on October 22. There, Sandi Cimino will provide a presentation on the Strengthening Families Protective Factors and describe how the community-generated Lean On Me AZ campaign builds on this existing framework.u003c/pu003e
