Denise Ensdorff, LCSW
President & CEO

Denise Ensdorff has been in the field of behavioral health since 1985, with many years of clinical experience as well as administrative experience. She has been with AzCA since 2007. Prior to AzCA Denise lived in Colorado where she worked in a residential and day treatment center for children, and an Employee Assistance Program. Behavioral health focused on children and their families is truly her passion.

You can contact Denise at densdorff@arizonaschildren.org.

Christina R. Cancino, CPA, CGMA
Chief Financial Officer

After serving as controller for Arizona's Children Association for two years, Christina was named Chief Financial Officer in 2008.  Prior to joining Arizona’s Children Association in 2006, she was business manager for a Tucson area general contractor. 

Christina earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Accounting at the University of Wyoming.  She is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Arizona.  Her professional memberships and community activities include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants;  Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants; former member of the Diocese of Tucson Finance Council and past president, former treasurer for the Board of Directors of Arizona’s Children Association.

Rebecca Hill
Vice President, Human Resources and Training

Rebecca brings to Arizona’s Children over 20 years experience in all aspects of human resource management. With extensive experience in private, public, and non-profit settings, Ms. Hill has responsibility for all employment-related activities, benefits administration, employee-management relations, licensure and accreditation compliance, records management, and legal compliance issues.

Rebecca is an active member and leader in the Society for Human Resource Management and the American Society for Training and Development. She has been awarded numerous citations for her outstanding leadership skills, volunteer services, and commitment to diversity and equality.

Rebecca has been involved in a number of community organizations and governmental boards, commissions and councils, including a stint on the Pima County Merit System Commission as a hearing officer for employee disciplinary actions and terminations.

Becky Holton

Chief Development Officer

Becky has been with AzCA’s Development and Marketing department since 2007. She has been in the nonprofit field for more than 12 years, having worked directly in program administration and in fundraising/communications. Prior to Arizona ’s Children Association, Becky worked in the Chicago area leading development departments for both national and local organizations and is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Becky is a graduate of the University of Iowa and earned an Advanced Certificate in Special Education. She is also a certified cross-categorical K-12 Special Education teacher for the state of Arizona.

Pat Ortega, MBA

Chief Information Officer

Pat Ortega joined Arizona’s Children Association in July of 1998 and is currently responsible for Information Technology and Electronic Medical Records development and support. He has over 16 years of experience working with children and families in both residential treatment and community settings. He has worked in various roles at AZCA over the years, including Child and Family Team Lead, Residential Counselor, Dorm Supervisor, Crisis Intervention Trainer, Program Director, Associate Quality Management Director, and Campus Manager. He was also presented with the Young Leader Award from the United Way for running a successful employing giving campaign.

Pat earned his Executive Master’s degree in Business Administration from Troy State University in 2006, and has also earned degrees in Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Criminal Justice.

Maximizing the use of technology to help children, adults, and their families is one of Pat’s primary ambitions. He is a local Tucsonan that has lived in the area for over 38 years.

Candy Espino

Director of Child Welfare

Bio coming soon...

Virginia Hout

Director of Prevention Services

Virginia has been with AzCA since 2001 and has nearly 20 years of experience as a child and family therapist in community mental health and private practice settings, as well as in adoption and foster care services. She has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, with a specialty in expressive arts therapies, from Antioch New England Graduate School . During her years at Arizona 's Children, she has provided supervision and program oversight for foster care, adoption, respite, life skills training, outpatient, parenting education, home visitation, and kinship care services. She has been very active with community initiatives around early childhood development, including Best for Babies court teams, facilitation of support groups for CASAs working with birth to 3 year-olds, and implementation of training to foster and adoptive parents providing care for infants and toddlers. She currently provides leadership for the agency’s prevention services, including Parents as Teachers, New Directions Institute, The Parent Connection, and Golden Gate Community Center .

Jessie Gillam

Director of Behavioral Health

Jessie Gillam began her work with AzCA in 2005 and is currently providing oversight to the outpatient behavioral health programs throughout the state. Jessie has been working in the behavioral health field for 12 years and has experience as a case manager, clinician, administrator, and director. As a director, she has made impactful changes to increase continuity of care for families, while improving sustainability with state contracts. She has a master’s degree in counseling, holds a professional license with the AzBBHE as an LPC, and is recognized by the National Board for Certified Counselors. She is passionate about the AzCA mission and work that we do in seeing children overcome difficult situations with resilience and positivity.