Hoping to build on the legislative successes of 2024 that included increases in funding for affordable child care, expanded KidsCare through AHCCCS, and continuing vital reforms in child foster care, Arizona Children’s Action Alliance (CAA) is looking to the members of the State Legislature to enact several of their recommendations in 2025.
- Addressing the shortage of early care educators
- Increasing the accessibility of quality child care and early learning facilities in rural and underserved communities through investments in construction projects
- Restoring TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) for children in the care of extended family.
- Providing dental coverage to adults, including pregnant women, through AHCCCS.
CAA Director of Government Relations and Health Policy Jennifer J. Burns and Vice President of Development and Communications Damita Curry graciously took the time to discuss their organization’s legislative goals for 2025.
The questions and their responses are below.
What were at least two CAA legislative priorities from 2024 that were able to make it into law? Please explain.
Jennifer J. Burns: “One of the key ones was getting $12 million for affordable child care. That was a very big win for Arizona’s children and families. I would add two other wins that weren’t directly legislative and that we were instrumental in navigating and helping to guide. The first is a successful AHCCCS renewal process following the pandemic, with Arizona leading the nation in some positive metrics. Another one passed in the Legislature the year before but went into effect this past year in 2024. This is the expansion of KidsCare to 225% of the federal poverty level with a growth of over 19,000 kids getting health insurance, almost double the estimates.”
What were at least two CAA legislative priorities from 2024 that did not become a law? Please explain.
Jennifer J. Burns: “One would have been expanding the adult dental coverage through AHCCCS. That did not pass the Legislature. Then the second one is a congregate care bill that did not pass. We are advocating for both of those bills again this year. The third priority addresses the problem that Arizona is worst in the country for putting children under 12 in congregate care settings, meaning group homes, instead of in individual family placements. We’re working to get more foster kids placed with families instead of in group homes and we were disappointed it didn’t pass last year. We’re going to work on it again this year.”
Damita Curry: If I may add to that, it’s mainly because across the country a lot of states are getting away from putting little children in congregate care. Arizona is an outlier, and it is something we definitely want to change. We know that children work best in a family setting. We want to make sure we place them with families, especially for children under 12.”
Jennifer J. Burns: “We have actually seen DCS (Department of Child Safety) take some steps. Even though the bill didn’t pass, there have been improvements and DCS has taken some steps to reduce the number of kids in congregate care and place more children with families.”
What are your top three top legislative goals to advance children’s interests for 2025? Please explain.
Jennifer J. Burns: “We’ve mentioned we are running the congregate care bill to reduce the number of children in group homes for kids under 12.”
“We are also doing the adult dental bill. Another bill that we really want to highlight this year is the Child Care Facility Funding Program. We’re not actually asking for money this year, but we want to put the structure in place for a funding program to help build child care facilities in Rural Arizona and underserved communities.
Another bill is to restore TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,) for children that are not formally in DCS care and custody but are staying with family. The idea is if the kids are staying with kin, we want to allow the child to get TANF funds to help the family care for the kid to keep them out of the DCS system
Damita Curry: “I think that second one that Jennifer is speaking to of the kinship stipend is for families that aren’t necessarily in foster care. We used to have that at some point in time. We’re trying to bring that back.”
Based on recent legislative history to what extent are you optimistic that a substantial portion of your legislative priorities will reach the governor’s desk for signature?
Jennifer J. Burns: “We are always optimistic. We do have new people coming in, new legislators and also new folks at CAA. There’s going to be a learning curve, but I think it also brings excitement to see what we can accomplish together.”.
Democrats are advocating calls for increased child care funding, full day Pre-K and kindergarten, expansion of Kids Care, fully funded K-12, working towards every child has a free breakfast and lunch. Would you care to comment on any of those proposals?
Jennifer J. Burns: “I think we support all of those things that go towards the things that we’d like to see. So, we do support all of them.”
Is there anything in the Republican agenda that you would advocate for?
Damita Curry: “Just simply put our mission is to build an Arizona where children and families thrive. If those proposals are doing that, we’re in favor of them.”
Is there anything not covered in the first six questions that you would like the readers to know about the CAA’s legislative priorities for 2025? Please explain.
Jennifer J. Burns: “I think it’s similar to where Damita was just going. Our focus is to improve the health care, the safety, and the education of children in Arizona and create an environment where children and families thrive.”
Damita Curry: “We’re always fighting for children, whether it be defensively, trying to protect the things that we have for children and families or whether we’re submitting a bill to further improve and the issue areas we support. We’re always in favor of that, regardless of who comes to the table, whether it be Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. We’re in favor of making life better for children. That’s a team we want to be on.
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