Council Report

City Council Report 
 
Date:   
April 20, 2026 
To:  
 
City Council 
Through:  
Miranda DeWitt, Government Relations Director 
From:  
Sharon Skinner, Grants Coordinator 
Subject:  
Resolution of support for the submittal of a grant application by Child 
Crisis Arizona to the Ak-Chin Indian Community in the amount of $35,000 
for their Emergency Foster Care Placement program. and approving the 
City Manager to accept and administer subsequent awarded funds as a 
pass-thru grant. 
 
Purpose and Recommendation 
 
This request is seeking a City Council resolution of support for Child Crisis Arizona 
application to Ak-Chin Indian Community for Proposition 202 funding.  If awarded, the 
grant will provide $35,000 in funding for their Emergency Foster Care Placement 
program. A Council Resolution supports this effort to secure a grant and commits the 
city to receive it on behalf of the non-profit and pass it through in its entirety to them if 
awarded.  As these programs serve the needs of City of Mesa residents, staff 
recommendation is for Council to adopt this resolution. 
 
Background 
 
Child Crisis Arizona is a local nonprofit agency whose mission is to provide children and 
youth in Arizona a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect, by creating strong 
and successful families.  
 
The Emergency Foster Care Placement program provides a safe haven for homeless 
children and youth in the child welfare system who were removed from their families 
due to abuse or neglect.  
 
Child Crisis Arizona is headquartered in the City of Mesa, with several programs located 
within the city, including a Group Home, Early Head Start, Preschool and Counseling 
Programs. Of the children and youth served through the Emergency Foster Care 
Placement Services, 67 (18%) were served in or originated from Mesa. 
 
Of the children and youth served in the Emergency Foster Care Placement Services in 
2025, 263 (15%) were served in or originated from Mesa. These programs provided  
113,973 nights of safe sleep in 2025.

Discussion 
 
A resolution of support for this grant request will complete the necessary documentation 
for the organization to file their application by the funder’s deadline and be considered 
for funding from Ak-Chin Indian Community.  Mesa’s participation in Proposition 202 
Indian Gaming Grants has returned over $1 billion to Arizona communities since its 
passage in 2002 from four surrounding tribal governments.  
  
Alternatives 
 
The only alternative to adopting this resolution would be to not adopt. Such an action 
would deny Mesa sponsorship for this request and require the organization to seek an 
alternate local government for access to this funding source.  
 
Fiscal Impact 
 
The fiscal impact on the City of Mesa, should this grant be awarded, will be negligible 
except overhead expenses in accounting to accept and reissue the grant check.  The 
City does not administer the grant and signs an MOU or IGA with each tribe to limit our 
liability to only the pass-through transaction.