COCONINO COUTY — Coconino County Juvenile Court (CCJC) and Mercy Care’s Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Council, in partnership with two dozen local and state agencies are teaming up on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to bring basic and much-needed resources to families caring for their young relatives at the 3rdAnnual Kinship Fair. The event will be held at Puente de Hozho Elementary School in Flagstaff from 4 – 6:00 p.m.
The Fair was created in 2023 to assist kinship caregivers who were stepping up to provide a place for a relative’s children to stay while their relatives went through the child welfare process.
“Kinship caregivers do this incredible thing of keeping their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews out of a foster home and keep them home with family,” said Sandra Quintanilla, the Dependency Program Coordinator for Coconino County Juvenile Court. “We wanted to support them so that they don’t feel they have to deal with this new situation all by themselves.”
The event has since expanded to all families taking care of a loved one’s children and adoptive parents because “not every family is ready at the drop of a hat to accommodate new children into their home, especially in an emergency,” she said.
“Kinship caregivers are making it possible for children to stay with their families, and it’s not always easy,” said Alejandra Velarde, who oversees Mercy Care’s behavioral health programs for children in foster care in Northern Arizona. “We’re honored to work with our community partners, like the Coconino County Juvenile Court, to make sure that these families know that they aren’t alone.”
Caregivers will be able to connect with an array of service providers including Coconino County’s WIC program, the Department of Economic Security offices, physical and behavioral health, indigenous health, parenting classes, AHCCCS enrollment, and family support, like guardianship paperwork.
“We hope families will come to connect with other families in similar circumstances and see all of the supportive resources right here in their own community that have their health and wellbeing in mind,” said Quintanilla.
Arts and crafts will be provided for children while their parents peruse the available services. Pizza and refreshments will be available while supplies last. The event is free, and all families are encouraged to attend. Puente de Hozho Elementary School is located at 3401 N. Fourth Street in Flagstaff.