So, I know this girl. She is twelve years old. She lives in a loving home. She made friends with neighborhood kids. Kids who had lived through much turbulence and instability on their road to adolescence. One day, this girl decided not to go to school and instead spent her day at the mall without the intent of returning home that night. When three in the afternoon rolls around, this girl is not home. Her mom starts wondering where she is. Mom calls the girl’s phone- no answer. She called the bus barn to see if her child was on the bus, but the driver had left for the day. So, mom waits. After a short period, mom starts calling around friends’ houses. No one had seen or heard from the girl.

By 6 p.m., mom calls the police to share her daughter is missing.

As the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we wanted to share this new video that highlights our Mission, Vision, Programs and Goals for 2022.

CCC&Y works by bringing together:

Informed and energized community members who come together to solve problems, impact policy, and create solutions that allow every person to realize their full potential.

Did you know:

56.3 percent of Coconino County 8th graders have witnessed another punched, kicked, choked or beaten up — AYS 2018
In Coconino County, 1,210 youth experienced 5 or more adverse childhood experiences — AZ ACE Consortium, 2019
…From 2014-2018, alcohol killed 89 percent more residents than motor vehicle accidents — Coconino County
Research shows increased adverse childhood experiences increases substance use risk
See how protective factors and pathways for developing resiliency can help improve outcomes in Coconino County for families and youth.

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary of service in Northern Arizona, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth stands ready in 2022 to help connect families and community members with a number of options, including free educational resources, training programs for our partners and members, monthly virtual youth open mic sessions, city resource guides, calendars of upcoming family events and a variety of programs offered by our more than 100 individual and nonprofit members.

April is child abuse prevention month. Some may not realize that 24,093 child abuse reports were acted on in six months during 2020. (www.azcourts.gov/casa/Child-Welfare/Child-Welfare-Stats) . With such a large number, we may ask, “What can one person do?”

Here are a few suggestions:

Train your brain.
Take at least a few minutes each day to be aware of your thoughts’ pace, take note of your emotions, and give awareness to your sensations. Use this practice to increase your awareness. Addressing your needs comes later. Take regular mindfulness breaks to be and let thoughts float by like clouds. In our hurried society, pausing from “doing” may seem insignificant. However, over time you will reap the benefits and realize how impactful mindful breaks can be. Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth has a monthly mindfulness opportunity. Email virginia@coconinokids.org for more information or to be added to the mindfulness listserve.

Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, recently sat down with KAFF Country for a Pete’s Community Cafe interview on childhood trauma issues impacting youth and families in the region and the use of techniques to promote healing, growth and build resiliency.

During the interview, Watahomigie discussed how CCC&Y tackles the issue through a variety of online training programs on its https://coconinokids.org/prevention/ webpage.

“Prevention through Resiliency: Impacting Community” was the subject of Virginia Watahomigie’s presentation at the 25th annual Statewide Child Abuse Prevention Conference, held July 23, 24 at the Wigwam Resort, Litchfield Park.