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About Us
Mission: The Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition (PAFCO) is a historic, diverse, non-partisan alliance of social services, health, community service agencies, advocacy groups, citizen advocacy, and faith-based associations. Hundreds of social, health, and community services agencies, human services groups, citizen action and advocacy groups, and faith-based congregations are represented in the Coalition. The Coalition members include an estimated 20,000 staff, board members and volunteers serving over 1.5 million people. PAFCO was formed to stop drastic budget cuts to health and human services and urge better options to these budget cuts.
PAFCO's History & Frequently Asked Questions
History of PAFCO
Citizen activists' organizations, community advocates, children's and human services advocates formed the Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition (PAFCO) in October of 2001 in response to the state budget crisis. At the time, the Governor and state legislature proposed state budget cuts that threatened the very capacity and existence of the human services sector. From a small meeting in October 2001, PAFCO has grown to represent hundreds of consumer and family groups, faith congregations, health and social service agencies, and community advocates groups.
Like most other states in 2001, Arizona faced a deep state budget deficit. While needs rose; revenues decreased. For many policy-makers, cuts to health and human services were one of the most obvious solutions to the problem. Knowing the profound and devastating impact this would have on thousands of families across Arizona, PAFCO formed and acted quickly.
Because of PAFCO and its member organizations, the most devastating cuts were avoided. Budget cuts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars have been stopped in past legislative sessions. This included avoiding cuts like eliminating the state Child Health Insurance program serving 50,000 children and 11,000 parents, revamping child care subsidies funding and rules so that 39,000 children would not be frozen out of child care, eliminating Family Literacy, the early childhood block grant, transitional health care for foster children, and slashing spending for general assistance, child welfare, child abuse prevention, hunger, homelessness and domestic violence. PAFCO played key role in stopping many cuts including the elimination of the General Assistance program for people with severe disabilities
PAFCO has brought together groups which traditionally worked against one another or allowed themselves to be pitted against one another. PAFCO's actions foster social transformation in a variety of ways. PAFCO has built cross sector community action among diverse groups previously unknown and un-sustained in Arizona, for example coordinating action for seniors' and children's groups. In four years, PAFCO is the recognized citizen power base of human service associations and agencies, other coalitions, faith-based and citizen activist community organizations, and consumer groups.
PAFCO's diverse membership base and broad participation by many different groups is its greatest strength. PAFCO has united diverse groups around a single goal - assuring the needs of vulnerable populations are not pitted against one another in the state budget process. We quickly became known and trusted by both citizens and policy leaders as a 'can do' and 'will do' organization. Not only did this help establish PAFCO quickly as a policy 'player,' it also helped to immediately recruit people to PAFCO. PAFCO has provided leadership to encourage underrepresented voices and vehicle for civic participation. It has inspired and given hope to many ordinary people and organizations. Communication and shared information have become hallmark strategies and strengths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q - WHY SHOULD HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES AND OTHER GROUPS PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROJECT? A - Human services groups can benefit from this project in several different ways. By getting the most current information about vulnerable populations and the health care crisis providers can work to alleviate issues affecting their clients. Health and human services agencies are also experiencing increasing costs for their health coverage. These workshops will provide some context for those changes and also provide ways agencies and groups can contribute to long term solutions to the crisis. Second, this project will teach advocacy skills honed over several years of practical application. These advocacy strategies, knowledge and skills are transferable to any other health and human services issues.
Q - WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRACTICAL SKILLS OF ADVOCACY? A - Many specific updated 'how to' skills are discussed, practiced and learned including how to make an effective visit, write a letter, or make a phone call with policy makers. Other skills include how to mobilize your agency, groups or consumers, how to create a presence at the legislature or in Congress and how to communicate your solutions to policy makers effectively. The workshops teach basic ideas and skills for analyzing power dynamics and how to effectively impact those with power. The training is geared to helping citizens participate effectively in creating public policy solutions.
Q - WHAT ARE THE TRAINING ALERTATIVES? A - The project can tailor specialized trainings appropriate for your group. The training can be short or more in-depth and oriented to your specific needs. Or you and particular staff or consumers can participate in train- the-trainer opportunities in the fall of 2007 and provide training for your staff, board, volunteers, and people you serve. We will customize training for your groups depending upon your needs and goals.
Q - WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS TRAINING? A - Depending upon your preferences, training can be provided to consumers, staff, agency leaders, board members and volunteers. All will benefit from increased knowledge of the health care crisis and solutions while all can benefit from the practical advocacy skills learned.
Q - WHAT SPECIFIC RESOURCES WILL BE PROVIDED DURING THE TRAINING? A - The project will provide tools for understanding the current health care crisis and its relationship to other human services issues like poverty, hunger, homelessness, and family violence. Information will be provided on current health care programs, private health insurance options, solutions being considered at federal and state levels and alternatives for universal coverage. Additional resources will include: advocacy handouts, how to write letters to editors with samples, op-ed ideas and samples, and ideas for building and participating in effective coalitions. Innovative resources will include tools to evaluate the various alternatives for health care reform. For groups who desire it, train-the-trainer resources will be provided to help them extend the training throughout their organization and community with staff, consumers, boards, and volunteers.
Q - WHAT DOES THE TRAINING COST? A - There is no cost to the organization. PAFCO has received a grant to provide trainings at your facilities. For large or very specialized groups, we may ask help with deferring the cost of materials to assure all participants get the resources needed.
Q - ARE THERE VIABLE SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM? A - Yes. Many groups are providing numerous options that can be tailored for various states, populations and political climates. You can also visit our website for summaries of a few of these options. This project is part of the larger movement in our society seeking solutions to the multifaceted crisis in our health care system. Many solutions are being proposed at the state and federal level. This project will help and empower health and human services groups to effectively participate in creating those solutions for their employees and the people they serve.