We’ve kept children and youth safe for 45 years through our Emergency Residential Shelters.

Emergency Children’s Shelters

Child Crisis Arizona operates the only licensed Emergency Children’s Shelter facility for children ages 2 through 10 in Maricopa County. The shelter is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Children are placed in the shelter through referrals from the Arizona Department of Child Safety and Tribal Social Services, and by community members who for whatever reason may not be able to provide care for their child and need a safe place temporarily.

More than just a place to sleep, Child Crisis Arizona’s home-like shelter meets all of a child’s needs. Specially trained staff and volunteers provide help, comfort, care, and support.

Children in the shelter receive:

• Nurturing care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Balanced meals and healthy snacks
• Clothing and personal care items
• Medical screenings and attention to health issues, including vaccinations and visits to the doctor and dentists as needed
• Educational support and counseling

While kids are at the shelter, they participate in activities like art, music, dancing and swimming lessons, as well as visits from therapy dogs. Through the generosity of our donors and community partners, children at the shelter and in our foster and adoption programs may also attend field trips to museums, cultural events, attractions and family-friendly activities.

Parents and caregivers experiencing an emergency may rely on the shelter if no other care options are available. The program is open to anyone in need of help caring for their children, based on availability.

If you are in need of help, please contact (480) 834-9424

Child Crisis Arizona’s Group Home

Child Crisis Arizona operates a group home for ten boys, ages 10-18, in the foster care system. While living in this home the boys are cared for physically and mentally and given every opportunity possible to be the teens that they are. Please see our wishlist for ideas about how you can help make life more enjoyable for these young men!

Independent Living for Foster Youth 16-21

Child Crisis Arizona operates two independent living housing complexes for youth ages 16 to 21 in the foster care system. These youth who have a case plan of Independent Living (meaning an adoption is unlikely to occur before the age of 18) have the opportunity to practice typical apartment life with the guidance and support of program staff.

Each teen enrolled in the program follows guidelines like keeping their apartment clean, obeying a curfew, attending school or a job, participating in counseling and attending group life skills courses. Youth can live in the program until they age out of foster care at age 21 or when they become self sufficient. The program can house up to 50 youth.

Youth must be referred to this program through a case manager.

Safe Place® Housing 

In Maricopa County, Safe Place is run by Child Crisis Arizona and connects youth with safety, shelter and support. Several beds within the Independent Living Program are reserved for youth ages 12-17 who are runaway, homeless or seeking immediate help or safety from crisis. Safe Place is a national outreach and prevention program that designates community partners as Safe Place locations, such as QuikTrip and Valley Metro. A youth who comes to a Safe Place location seeking help is provided shelter until a safe alternative can be found. More information on the program can be found at nationalsafeplace.org or by calling the 24-hour Crisis Line 602-841-5799.

If you suspect a child may be suffering from abuse or neglect

Please call the Arizona Department of Child Safety’s Child Abuse Hotline:

(888) 767-2445 (1-888-SOS-CHILD), TDD: (602) 530-1831