Read our book:
Behavioral Health Department Head and Trainer
Sue Ann Springer
Chris Monaco, Ph.D.
In the Big World Of Courts and Controls
Children's Voices are small
Educational Advocate
Staff Attorney
Vincent Guarnieri, MC
Donnalee Sarda, LPC (licensed professional counselor)
Paralegal
Defenders of Children delivers services and employs without regard for race, religion, color, sex, age, marital status, disability, citizenship, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or national origin. If you believe you have been discriminated against, please email our Civil Rights Contact, at vincentg@defendersofchildren.org for assistance.
Johanna Fierstein
Consultant and Instructor
Our Board of Directors
Executive Director
Pat O'Connell
About Defenders of Children
Glenda Carlon
Advisory Council
| Administration | Carol A. Jacobson |
| Family Physician | Claire Bowey, MD |
Educational Consultants | Tamara Ballou Paige Frankel-Mollen |
Consulting Attorneys | David M. Lujan |
| Members | Shelley Adams Betty H. McRae |
Jami Cornish, Esq.
Child Advocacy 101
Kimberly Kino, LPC
In addition to working with client families, the staff liaisons with other non-profit organizations, such as residential treatment centers, along with state and county officials concerned with children's welfare. Defenders of Children works with families to provide information and referrals, and social services including trauma-informed, free counseling for victims. Defenders offers legal services for client-families that meet our criteria, and possible forensic and expert witness services when children and their families have exhausted available resources through public service groups, and yet the children still remain at risk (see Family or Legal Services). Defenders of Children also interfaces as needed with such agencies as the Attorney General’s Office, AZ State Bar, Family and Juvenile Courts, the Department of Child Safety (DCS formerly CPS), and State Legislators.
Defenders of Children may provide family support such as mediation, supervision, therapeutic intervention (aka reunification) and education advocacy with our own in-house team of qualified professionals when there is a compelling evidence that a child is at risk or family finances are exhausted.
| Board Chair | John McAlister |
| Secretary | Donnalee Sarda, LPC |
| Treasurer | Joanne McDonald |
Members at Large | Annette Heasman, R.N. |
Case Manager
Our Staff
- Protect children from ongoing abuse or criminal mistreatment in their homes
- Ensure children receive the rights to which they are entitled
- Assist adult and child victims of family violence in Relearning Relationships©, healing the family unit
- Identify and address inadequacies in the child protection and legal systems as they come to our attention
- Bring about beneficial changes in those systems by encouraging positive changes in guidelines, protocols, and laws to ensure the safety and well-being of children
- Conduct educational trainings for the community and professionals involved in child protection, welfare and children’s legal issues
- Ensure safety in all areas of children’s lives, where they live and where they congregate: family situations, school playgrounds, internet chat rooms, etc.
Defenders of Children Goals
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Behavioral Health Specialist
Helpline Advocate