As a member of the national Prevent Child Abuse America network, PCA Arizona benefits from the shared vision, knowledge, and collaboration of chapters across the nation. This past November, Arizona hosted the biennial national convening of chapters—a gathering that proved both hopeful and impactful.
Coming together after a divisive election season felt especially meaningful. In a time when polarization is often front and center, this event was a powerful reminder of our shared vision: a world in which all children and families are living a purposeful and happy life with hope for the future.
The convening was rich with memorable moments. Elisia Manuel of Three Precious Miracles welcomed national attendees with a gourd-painting activity and invited the Chi’Chino Spirit O’Odham Dance Group to perform a captivating Native American dance, grounding the gathering in the cultures and traditions of Arizona’s indigenous peoples. Her words, “Culture is prevention,” echoed throughout the event, reminding us of the importance of preserving heritage and community in families.
Elisia Manuel (far right) of Three Precious Miracles and Takeem Morgan (far left) of Prevent Child Abuse America smile with the “Chi’Chino Spirit” O’Odham Dance Group (middle).
Another highlight was a transformative presentation by Prudence Beidler Carr of the American Bar Association, exploring the complex history of how poverty became defined as neglect in child welfare. She traced this narrative back to a history of racist policies and practices that drove a deliberate under-resourcing of communities of color. Her thorough review of legal milestones like Brown vs. Board of Education and the Flemming Rule illustrated the origins of federal investments in foster care and child protective services. The presentation challenged the audience to consider how our current systems still harbor its discriminative roots.
Throughout the summit, the power of shifting mindsets was an underlying theme. Preventing child abuse and neglect isn’t just about addressing individual family behaviors; it’s about creating systems and communities that meet families’ needs on a broader scale. Supporting families is not just an act of compassion—it’s an investment in our collective future. Fighting the culture of individualism is critical to gaining support for well-evidenced policies like paid family leave, affordable high-quality childcare, and accessible economic support programs to lift families out of poverty.
The insights and shared strategies from this event have strengthened our resolve to improve the way Arizona supports families, and reaffirmed the power of collaboration in achieving a shared vision.