Aviva has been striving to fulfill its mission in a manner that has been responsive to the needs of foster children by supplying basic necessity items and resources to enhance their self-esteem and well-being, providing a nurturing space for families to reconnect and heal, and establishing programs that promote family reunification. Aviva began in 1978 after the local Tucson newspaper ran a series of articles revealing serious shortfalls in Arizona’s foster care system. What started as a conversation among friends at a kitchen table about organizing a small, grassroots volunteer group to help children in foster care has evolved into one of the largest providers of service to children in the care of DCS in southern Arizona—Aviva Children’s Services. In 1999, Aviva was formally incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit organization in the State of Arizona.
Aviva serves the foster children of Pima County through programs such as the Parent Aide, Abused Children’s Fund, Volunteer, Community Resources and Parental Support. Through these programs we touch the lives of close to 80% of foster children in Pima County —from newborns to 18 years of age. Served close to 3500 children and 1000 client-families per year.
Recent reports indicate there has been an increase in number of children in dependency – term used to refer to children that have been removed from their parent by the State. There are currently 4,500 children in foster care in Pima County and approximately 15,000 statewide. Aviva’s work in support of this children is therefore more critical now than ever.
Aviva relies on the goodwill of both individuals and organizations to donate in-kind goods, time and money to provide for the special needs of foster children. Please join Aviva’s efforts to make a difference in the lives of these children—Because