For over 40 years, Aviva Children’s Services has worked to fulfill its mission to improve the quality of life for children who are victims of neglect, abuse and poverty and are in the care of Arizona’s Department of Child Safety (DCS). Aviva responds to the needs of children in foster care by providing programs and resources to enhance their self-esteem and well-being as well as supplying necessity items such as clothing, shoes, blankets and personal care items.
Aviva Children’s Services was founded in 1978 by a group of concerned citizens who came together to address shortfalls in Arizona’s foster care system when they were highlighted by a series of articles in a local newspaper. This group decided there were things that they could do to help, and they began to provide services and resources to foster families. Since that time, Aviva has tried to meet the unfulfilled needs of foster families and step into the gaps wherever possible to support them. Over the years Aviva has provided an array of both formal and informal supports to children and families involved in the foster care system. These services have included a tutoring program for children, a supervised visitation program, a parent training program, a parent peer support program, a specialized visitation program for mothers and newborns and a community resource center for kinship and foster families.
In July of 2019 Aviva became a wholly owned subsidiary of Easterseals Blake Foundation. Together, Easterseals Blake Foundation and Aviva Children’s Services will develop a Center of Excellence for children involved with or at high risk for involvement with the Foster/Kinship care system. The Aviva Center will be a preferred provider of system partners such as Department of Child Safety, State Foster Care Health Plans, school systems, law enforcement and families along the continuum of risk, removal and reunification. For more information about Easterseals Blake Foundation please visit easterseals.com/blakefoundation
Leadership
Board of Directors
David Iaconis, President, BeachFleischman, PLLC
Gabrielle Ficchi, Vice President, New Perspectives, LLC
Eric Smith, Treasurer, First Citizens Bank
Gregory Leiner, Assured Partners of Arizona
Betsy Bruce, Radio and Entertainment Industry
Gene Goldstein, Bramic Design, PLLC
James Maina, Main Street Executive and Employee Benefits
James Woodrow, Treasurer, Law Offices of James M. Woodrow
Gregory Lanier, Assured Partners of Arizona, Inc.
Shay Stautz, Shay and Shay Consulting
Jason Smith, Smith & Wamsley
Joey Medina, Journey Payroll and HR Tucson
Maria Morlacci, Arizona Attorney General’s Office
Pat Treeful, Behavioral Health Executive
Holly Paddock Welton, Financial Services Professional
Melanie Rice, Southwest Gas
Reggie Geary, Wildcat Club
Executive Leadership
Steve Guthrie
Chief Executive Officer
Laura Morales
Chief Operating Officer
Marissa Arendt
Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Sally Boeve
Chief Medical Officer
Megan Wills
Chief Community Programs Officer
Dr. Carly Zies
Chief Clinical Officer
Dina Scalone
Chief External Relations Officer
Mandy Hendricks
Chief IDD Services Officer
Cristina Greenberg
Executive Director