The Community Alliance for Resources and Education (CARE) Coalition is a collaborative group of community members, youth, local agencies, schools, and individuals dedicated to uniting, informing, and empowering the West Valley to positively impact youth through collective planning and action.

CARE aims to reach all parts of the population, incorporating the 12 Sectors of Community as outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in collaboration with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). Members from each sector are encouraged to join and participate in our quarterly coalition meetings!

During CARE Coalition Meetings, attendees have opportunities to share insights into the community sector they serve. These insights help us shape our programs and direct community members to helpful resources.

To learn more about how you can become a general CARE Coalition member, check out this page:  https://carecoalitionaz.org/general-care-members/

CARE members who are also sector leaders are encouraged to apply to become CARE Advisory Board members. To learn more about the CARE Coalition Advisory Board, please click here: https://carecoalitionaz.org/care-advisory-board/

CARE began in 2010 as the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP), which Touchstone Health Services managed as a fiscal agent. Community partners joined to provide input and support for the program. As the TPPP’s first funding cycle came to a close, the LAC evolved into the CARE Coalition, actively working to create meaningful community change.

In 2020, Touchstone received a new three-year grant, allowing CARE to expand into Glendale and Alhambra. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the grant enabled the coalition to reach over 5,700 youth and 240 parents or guardians with evidence-based programs.

Touchstone is implementing a five-year grant (2023–2028) funded by the Office of Population Affairs. This grant enables the CARE Coalition to serve communities in Avondale, Tolleson, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, and parts of Glendale, Phoenix and Buckeye. This funding supports the continued growth of the CARE Coalition, which aims to provide services to youth, parents, caregivers, and community members through evidence-based programs and training, achieving CARE’s mission through a holistic approach.

Touchstone Health Services is also proud to be the recipient of a three-year grant funded by the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family through Arizona’s Parent Commission. This initiative is focused on preventing and addressing early signs of youth substance use through a comprehensive, community-based approach.

Key components of the program include:

• Implementation of Evidence-Based Programs: Touchstone delivers Botvin’s LifeSkills Training for youth, along with Active Parenting of Teens and Botvin’s LifeSkills for Parents to strengthen family engagement and communication.
• Professional and Community Trainings: Ongoing development opportunities for professionals and community members to enhance knowledge and skills in prevention and early intervention.
• Youth Leadership Council: A platform for youth to lead and contribute to a public awareness campaign, promoting healthy choices and peer-led prevention efforts.
• Community Initiatives: Collaborative efforts with local partners to build supportive environments that reduce risk factors and promote protective factors for youth.

This grant supports Touchstone’s mission to empower youth and families, reduce substance use, and build a healthier community in the west valley, as well as continued support for the CARE Coalition.

This holistic approach enables us to effectively meet the needs of our community while honoring the grant’s purpose: preventing teen pregnancy. This approach drives the CARE Coalition to promote resources and programs to address a variety of youth health issues, such as STI and HIV prevention, birth control options, substance misuse, dating violence, suicide prevention, mental health concerns, and so much more in the West Valley.

The CARE Coalition serves as a vital link between the community and the programs available through Touchstone Health Services.