Welcome to this edition of Connecting, Encircle Families’ newsletter. In this issue, you’ll find:
- Key updates on Medicaid and what upcoming changes could mean for Arizona families.
- A heartfelt tribute to Peggy Storrs, one of our founders, whose vision and dedication helped shape Encircle Families into what it is today.
- A Staff Spotlight on Roxanna Diehl, whose professional and personal journey highlights the power of parent-to-parent connections and community support.
As you read through these stories, I want to share a personal perspective on the editor’s note in our main Medicaid article. While no immediate changes have taken place, the information signals the potential contraction of supports for some of Arizona’s most vulnerable people. We are deeply concerned about system contraction, funding cuts and restrictions on service provision that appear to be coming to children’s home- and community-based services.
This reality underscores the importance of Encircle Families continuing to amplify the family voice in public policy discussions and to work collaboratively to strengthen Arizona communities, reflecting our core belief that families play a vital role in shaping public policy and raising awareness.
At Encircle Families, we remain committed to ensuring every person is valued and included in society and to supporting families with the information, training and advocacy they need. Families are resilient—we have weathered systems changes in the past, we have weathered a pandemic together, and we will weather these challenges, too. Together, we will continue to navigate these changes with care, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the families we serve.
Christopher Tiffany
