Andrea Simon-Topoff originally contacted Encircle Families to request information for her son, who was diagnosed with autism, ADHD and behavior issues. After receiving resources, she later joined the organization, first as a Family Support Specialist and more recently as part of the Positive Family Coaching (PFC) program.
Andrea has two children, a teen son and a younger daughter. Her son has received support from behavioral health agencies, including inpatient treatment. He now attends online school funded through an Empowerment Scholarship Account and is thriving.
She temporarily left her role in Family Support to focus on her son’s needs, and once he had the right supports in place, she returned to join the PFC team. The PFC program uses trained behavioral health technicians to provide peer-to-peer support to families of children receiving services through an AHCCCS insurance plan.
“I see a lot of myself in the PFC families,” Andrea said. “If you haven’t been through decisions like residential placement or navigating therapies, it’s not easy to understand.” She supports families facing behavioral health challenges, and sometimes crises, from the perspective of someone who has been there.
Andrea has been an emergency medical technician since 2008, serving on ambulances and in hospital emergency rooms. She has also worked as a victim advocate, helping individuals and families during crisis situations.
Originally from northern New Jersey, Andrea moved to Arizona with her parents in 2002. She later relocated to Tucson, where she still lives. She loves to travel and spend time with her kids, including visiting zoos and aquariums.
At Encircle Families, Andrea appreciates learning about resources for her own family. She also values sharing her experiences with parents. “You can build rapport with families much more quickly,” she said. “It can be grounding to talk to others in similar situations. We are not alone.”
