Mary Cherry joined Arizona’s Children team in 2024 as our Senior Director of Program overseeing child welfare and prevention programs. Mary has 33 years of experience in child welfare programs serving children and families in Arizona. She has managed foster and adoption services including recruitment, training, licensure, certification, case management, and investigations for the Department of Child Safety and the Division of Developmental Disabilities contracts. She has ensured program compliance with Arizona statutes and regulations while achieving high outcomes and deliverables for a child placing agency serving over 200 foster and adoptive families. Mary received a Master’s Degree in Family and Child Development from Kansas State University.

Jim Van Wicklin joined Arizona’s Children Association in 2024 and is responsible for major gifts, regional fundraising, online giving, campaigns, estate giving, implementation of marketing and communication plans, public relations, media relations, digital communications, key messaging, storytelling, and branding. He has over 20 years of experience in fundraising and Marketing and has helped raise over $500 million in funds for charities nationwide. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Middle Tennessee State University and his Master’s in Marketing from the University of Phoenix.

Neda Milešić leads our Continuous Performance and Quality Improvement and the Learning and Development departments. In her role, Neda ensures the agency adheres to legal, regulatory, and internal standards while maintaining high-quality services through ongoing improvement, risk management, and employee development. Neda began her career in behavioral health and early childhood education, later transitioning to quality and compliance in child welfare, where she has led systemic improvements and service enhancements across multiple settings. A graduate of Barrett Honors College, Neda holds a BS in Psychology and earned dual master’s degrees from Arizona State University —a Master of Social Work, with a focus on policy and administration, and a Master of Public Administration —graduating with summa cum laude honors. She is a licensed social worker passionate about creating impactful change and advocating for underserved communities.

Elizabeth Wong, Ph.D. has been with Arizona’s Children Association since 1988 and is the Clinical Services Director responsible for the Specialty Behavioral Health programs which include the Las Familias Program for the treatment of childhood sexual abuse, Neurosequential Model in Caregiving, Neurosequential Model in Therapeutics and the Therapeutic Foster Care Program. She is also responsible for the internship program and clinical licensure of master’s level clinicians.  Dr. Wong is a licensed psychologist with experience in Child Welfare and Behavioral Health programs, critical debriefing, and trauma. She chairs the Statewide Trauma Informed Care committee.