As a mother of three, Torrie Taj experienced sleepless nights with an infant, watching a child’s first steps, teary-eyed hugs before the first day of school and all those milestones we hold tight and cherish as parents to recall to our children one day. Torrie also recalls the vast contrast in challenges she witnessed families and children endure in her professional experience such as homelessness, poverty, child abuse, domestic violence and neglect. As CEO of Child Crisis Arizona, Torrie Taj works tirelessly to ensure our vision of “Safe Kids, Strong Families.” Focusing on prevention through parenting classes in 20 locations throughout the Valley, Home Visitation and Early Education Services.
Many of the children and families we are yet to reach with prevention-focused training, may already be in crisis. Many of the nearly 18,000 Arizona children in foster care are placed with Child Crisis Arizona at our Emergency Children’s Shelters, the only two that operate in Maricopa County for young children. “We are working with children who have been traumatized, who may not be old enough to talk or even know their name,” Torrie explains
At Child Crisis Arizona, this sentiment also extends to our Foster Care and Adoption Services, which work to provide loving homes for kids through licensing and certifying foster and adoptive parents.
Torrie goes on to note that, “We can’t move the needle with the community [alone] providing us in-kind donations, we must unite with our government, other agencies, philanthropists, and funders,” in order to achieve our vision of, “Safe Kids, Strong Families." Those who can advocate on our behalf play a crucial role. The recent front page article released by Frontdoors News written by Julia Patrick exemplifies this type of support. It triumphed the “efficiency, best practices and modern management” efforts of our CEO, Torrie Taj.
Make a real difference this holiday season, learn how you can receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit against your state tax liability and support children in foster care in Arizona.
"We bring kids into our shelters and begin the process of healing and providing hope."
