For nearly half a century, two organizations—Crisis Nursery and Child Crisis Center—walked parallel paths in Phoenix and Mesa, dedicated to protecting children. When they merged as Child Crisis Arizona, they amplified their impact.
Today, Child Crisis Arizona is a beacon of safety and healing. From emergency shelter and foster care to early education and prevention, we provide stability and hope to families. As we celebrate 50 years, we honor the children, families, volunteers, and staff who make this possible, and we look forward to the next 50 years of continued impact.
Crisis Nursery is established in Phoenix through the vision of Dr. J. Kipp Charlton and the women of the Junior League of Phoenix, united by a commitment to child abuse prevention and family support.
Crisis Nursery opens its first shelter with two cottages on Fillmore Street, caring for six children at a time.
Child Crisis Center - East Valley is founded by the women of Mahnah Club, after they identified a need for child abuse intervention in the east valley. They opened their doors in Mesa with seven shelter beds.
Child Crisis Center moves to a new, larger shelter accommodating 30+ beds at 9th Street in Mesa, a space that remains part of Child Crisis Arizona’s shelter services to this day.
Crisis Nursery is relocated to a purpose-built children’s shelter near Maricopa Medical Center, expanding capacity to serve 36 children from birth to age 10.
Child Crisis Center opens the East Valley Family Resource Center housing parenting classes focused on prevention and providing needed resources for families.
Crisis Nursery pilots a daytime preschool program for at-risk families exiting shelter care.
The early childhood education program launches at Crisis Nursery, serving up to 80 children with wraparound family supports.
Crisis Crisis Center expands behavioral health services to include outpatient therapy focused on children and families.
Crisis Nursery and Child Crisis Center grow their programs to include foster care & adoption services at both agencies.
Child Crisis Center builds a new, larger East Valley Family Resource Center on Country Club in Mesa. Today this is our Mesa Early Education Campus.
Crisis Nursery receives
5-star quality recognition from First Things First for Early Education services.
Crisis Nursery serves over 1,200 children annually, delivering more than 36,000 days of care and thousands of home visits.
Crisis Nursery and Child Crisis Center formally announce intent to merge to expand reach and impact.
With board approval and philanthropic support, the two organizations officially merge with the intent to expand services throughout Arizona. The unified organization is named Child Crisis Arizona, with Torrie A. Taj, CFRE, appointed CEO.
Program expansion continues with the opening of Early Education Classrooms in Mesa
Child Crisis Arizona earns the Human Rights Campaign Solid Foundation for Inclusion benchmark annually.
Child Crisis Arizona receives Distinguished Service Award from Arizona Attorney General’s Office of Victim Services.
Child Crisis Arizona receives agency-wide accreditation via the National Council on Accreditation.
Child Crisis Arizona acquires Safe Kids Maricopa County, boosting prevention programming focused on safe sleep, safe swim and car seat safety.
Boys Group Home is acquired in Mesa, serving teens ages 11-17.
Emergency Shelter for refugee children opens first in Phoenix, later in Mesa.
Resource distribution program begins to provide basic need items like diapers, clothing and hygiene products to families in need.
Halle House, apartment-style living independent program for youth aging out of foster care, opens.
Services expand statewide to include Extended Foster Care and Healthy Families programs.
Acquisition of Whispering Hope Ranch, Arizona's only fully ADA-compliant camp facility.
Center for Child & Family Wellness opens – Living Petal Certified, net-zero, and community-centered.
Early Head Start earns National Head Start Association Program of Excellence Accreditation.
The Center for Child & Family Wellness welcomes over 30 Valley nonprofits to host collaborative programs or utilize space for their needs.
Independent Housing for young adults aging out of foster care opens in Mesa providing them with low-cost rent in a safe home environment.
Child Crisis Arizona celebrates 50 years, expanding its continuum of care to end young adult homelessness and provide community wellness services for all ages.
Today, our work reaches far beyond crisis response. We provide emergency shelter, foster care and adoption services, early education, family support and parenting education, resources for teens and young adults, and opportunities for healing and wellness through places like the Center for Child & Family Wellness and Whispering Hope Ranch.
As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we also look ahead with hope. Because the future we envision is one where every child feels safe, every family has the opportunity to grow stronger, and every young person can imagine a brighter future.
For 50 years, our community has helped make that vision possible. And together, we are just getting started.
