Our Story
Over 110 Years of Protecting Arizona’s Children
Arizona’s Children Association started with a single act of compassion in Tucson in 1912. A group of women noticed that local orphaned children were being sent to California for care rather than staying close to home. They decided to change that.
More than 110 years later, that same commitment continues to drive everything we do. Today, AzCA serves more than 5,000 children, youth, and families across all 15 Arizona counties.
We are one of Arizona’s oldest and largest nonprofit child welfare and behavioral health organizations.
We have never stopped showing up for Arizona’s children.
Our Mission and Vision
To protect children, empower youth, and strengthen families.
Vision
Every Arizona family has the resources and support needed to be safe, strong and resilient.
What We Believe
- Every child deserves a protective, stable and loving home.
- Every youth deserves the tools and support they need to reach their potential.
- Every family should have the opportunity to be healthy, strong and resilient.
How We Work
We meet families where they are, in their homes, their schools, and their communities. Our team moves between child welfare and behavioral health programs to make sure every person gets the support they need, not just part of it.
- Family focused, strength based and culturally sensitive
- Outcome-driven with data-backed decisions
- Delivered where you need it most: at home, in school, in your community
Our Values
Passion of Purpose
We have been doing this for more than 110 years because we believe in it. The safety and well-being of children is something we will never compromise on.
Quality Service
We hold ourselves to a high standard. We use data to make decisions, listen to the people we serve, and constantly look for ways to improve.
Collaboration
We work alongside families, communities, partners and donors because we know that the best outcomes happen together, not alone.
Respect for All
Everyone we work with deserves to feel valued and respected, whether they are a child in our care, a family seeking help, a donor, a volunteer, or a colleague.
Where We Started
In 1912, Mrs. Minnie Davenport stood up at a meeting of the Women’s Missionary Society of the First Christian Church of Tucson and made a motion that would change Arizona forever. She proposed founding a home in Arizona where orphaned and neglected children could be cared for — right here, close to family and community.
Within three years, the Arizona Children’s Home Association was incorporated. The first temporary home opened in June 1915 with six children in a modest rental house.
By 1921, the first permanent two-story building was completed on donated land in South Tucson, providing care for up to 60 children. By the 1990s, services had expanded across the state: Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson, Yuma, and beyond.
In 1997, we became Arizona’s Children Association to reflect the full breadth of who we serve and how we serve them.
Download our full history, A Century of Hope, here.
Financial Accountability
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we take our responsibility to donors and the public seriously. Every dollar is put to work in the most fiscally responsible way we know how. We hold ourselves to the same high standards in financial management that we do in program delivery. We’re proud to have earned a 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid. This distinction reflects our commitment to sharing clear, up-to-date information about our goals, strategies, and results with the donors and communities we serve.
- Tax ID: 86-0096772
For a copy of our Financial Report, email info@arizonaschildren.org. To view our Community Impact Report, click here.
Be Part of the Story
AzCA exists because of the people who believe every child in Arizona deserves a safe and loving home. Families who open their doors. Donors who make programs possible. Volunteers who show up. Partners who share our mission.
The next chapter of this story is being written right now. You can be part of it.
