PHOENIX — State officials announced that the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family has allocated $100,000 in grant funding to organizations working to prevent child abuse and neglect across Arizona. The awards were made through the Arizona Child Abuse Prevention and Advocacy (CAPA) License Plate Grant Program and are intended to bolster local, trauma-informed efforts designed to help families access support and resources before situations escalate into crises.
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The money was distributed to four Arizona-based groups that focus on prevention and family support. Officials said the grants will be used to expand parenting and caregiver education programs, create or enlarge youth mentoring opportunities, and strengthen efforts that connect families with community resources. GOYFF leaders framed the awards as part of a broader push to ensure children grow up in safe, stable homes while reinforcing the networks of assistance available to parents and caregivers.
The Arizona 'AZ KIDS' specialty license plate bearing the slogan 'It shouldn't hurt to be a child' — plate sales help fund child abuse prevention programs supported by the Governor’s $100,000 CAPA grants.
Governor Katie Hobbs issued a statement expressing support for the grants, saying, "I'm grateful for the GOYFF’s investment in local services that uplift our most vulnerable families." The governor's office positioned the awards as a demonstration of the state’s commitment to meeting the needs of Arizona families through locally delivered programs and services.
Tonya Hamilton, director of the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family, described the grants as targeted toward trauma-informed, community-based services that can intervene early. Hamilton said the goal is to make sure children have safe, stable homes and to strengthen support systems for parents and caregivers so families can get help before challenges become emergencies.
The four organizations selected to receive CAPA grant funding are Arizona Youth Partnership, Chicanos Por La Causa, Peer Solutions, and Southwest Human Development. Each group has worked in Arizona communities on issues related to youth services, family support and prevention; the announced funding is intended to expand existing programming or support new initiatives that align with the CAPA grant program’s prevention focus.
The CAPA Grant Program itself is funded through sales of a specialty license plate available to Arizona drivers. State officials encourage residents to purchase the Child Abuse Prevention specialty plate through the Arizona Department of Transportation, noting that proceeds from those plate sales support the grant cycle and future CAPA awards. The specialty plate carries a slogan aimed at raising awareness — a visual reminder that the program’s funds come directly from public participation in the license-plate program.
Officials said the grants prioritize community-based approaches and trauma-informed practices, emphasizing early connection to services. The announcement does not list individual grant amounts for the recipient organizations, only the total of $100,000 awarded through this round. State representatives framed the distribution as one of several ways the office seeks to invest in local providers that can deliver assistance directly within neighborhoods and communities.
The GOYFF manages the application and award process for the CAPA program and oversees distribution of funds generated by the specialty license plate. By directing dollars to community organizations, the office aims to support programs that can offer parenting education, caregiver support, mentoring for young people, and linkages to community resources that families might otherwise find difficult to access. Officials underscored that the intent is prevention — to reduce the chance that family stressors will develop into situations that place children at risk.
Residents interested in supporting the CAPA Grant Program can obtain the Child Abuse Prevention specialty plate through the Arizona Department of Transportation. State officials said purchases of the plate contribute to the pool of funds used for future grant cycles, allowing the program to continue awarding resources to nonprofits and community agencies focused on preventing child abuse and neglect.
The administration framed the investment as a practical step to strengthen family supports statewide. Those receiving the awards will work within their communities to implement or expand services aimed at caregivers, parents and youth, with the stated objective of preventing harm and bolstering protective factors for children. The GOYFF reaffirmed that the program will continue to seek partnerships and sources of funding that keep prevention efforts rooted in local organizations and responsive to the needs of families across Arizona.
The Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family released the awards on July 6 with fuller statements from leaders. Governor Hobbs stressed delivering community-based solutions "tailored to the unique needs of all Arizonans" while Director Tonya Hamilton highlighted investing in frontline groups "to protect Arizona children from abuse and neglect."
The Child Abuse Prevention specialty license plate carries a $25 annual fee; under Arizona’s specialty-plate structure $8 covers administrative costs and $17 is directed to the designated charity fund that finances the CAPA grants.
The current round was managed under GOYFF solicitation RFGA-LP-GOYFF-070126-00; GOYFF’s materials show an optional virtual pre-application conference for that RFGA was held on February 20, 2026.
GOYFF documents indicate revenue available to the CAPA program has fallen substantially since GOYFF took over administration in 2019 — roughly a 75% decline — a trend GOYFF has cited when urging more purchases of the specialty plate to replenish grant funds.