Not every child responds to the same type of teaching. Some come from hard places and need extra grace.
But most teachers don’t have special training to address these students’ unique circumstances. The result? Educators feel overwhelmed, children feel misunderstood and frustrated, and parents feel defeated.
That’s why Christian Family Care teamed up with Dr. Chuck Geddes of Complex Trauma Resources to create Calm Classrooms—a program where educators identify and provide solutions for children who may come from difficult backgrounds.
In 2025, we launched a partnership with the Alhambra Elementary School District—one of the most impoverished districts in Arizona, with high rates of crime—to offer complex-care training to staff members. Many of Alhambra’s
students are refugees or face challenges, including poverty, housing issues, crime, absenteeism, and truancy. These children often struggle with trauma and other behavioral issues.
Thanks to Calm Classrooms, over 600 Alhambra District teachers have learned how to:
• Tell the difference between the different types of traumas
• Recognize stress reactions from visible behaviors and use calming techniques
Both teachers and students have found the practices taught in this course immensely helpful. Techniques from the program bring peace to classrooms across the district.
The Impact of Calm Classrooms Training
Without your support, Calm Classrooms training would not be possible. These are just a few comments from teachers who participated in our training in 2025.
Thank you for partnering with us so we can help teachers and families thrive.
“This course made me reevaluate how I have handled situations with students in the past, who were most likely behaving in a certain way due to trauma. This course gave me new strategies on how to connect with and help those students.”
“I thought it was an excellent training! Many of the concepts helped me to articulate some of the things I have discovered through trial & error during my years as a classroom teacher. It was enlightening to fully understand why some of the strategies I have used worked and others were not effective. It was a nice "refresh" too— after so many years, it is easy to fall into old habits. This course has reminded me of ways that I can do better for my students. I have definitely identified some great "takeaways."
“I found this training to be incredibly informative and meaningful. It offered a deeper understanding of how trauma impacts students' development across multiple domains and emphasized the importance of building strong, attuned relationships in the classroom.”
Time Is Running Out to Claim Your Tax Credit!
Did you know that you can help place a foster child with a loving, devout family simply by redirecting the tax dollars you owe the state of Arizona?
When you take advantage of the Arizona Foster Care Tax Credit by donating to a qualifying organization like Christian Family Care, you may receive a dollarfor-dollar tax credit and reduce what you pay the state in taxes. Even better, when you claim this tax credit, you are helping to restore healthy families and serve children in need. It doesn’t get much better than that!
But you’ll need to claim this opportunity soon—the deadline
for taking advantage of this amazing 2025 tax credit is April 15.
If you’ve already taken advantage of the 2025 tax credit, you can now utilize the 2026 tax credit: up to $632 for those filing singly and $1,262, for married, filing jointly!
Ask your tax advisor if you qualify and claim your tax credit now by scanning the QR code below:
Thank you for your generosity!
A Year Full of Blessings
Thank you so much for generously supporting CFC and serving vulnerable children and families in need! Because of you, 2025 was an amazing year. Here are just a few encouraging numbers:
3,890 children and families served across Arizona (a 26% increase from last year!)
171 youth served by our Young Adult Service program
131 children served at Family Care KIDS
170 foster children received care and stability
18 youth found healing through therapeutic foster care
64 youth mentored
73 children adopted into forever families
29 children hosted in STRONG Families
81 families coached to improve family dynamics
We are so grateful for your prayers, support, and love, which made all this possible. Check out our 2025 Impact Report at cfcare.org/2025-ImpactReport to learn more about the incredible things God is doing through CFC.
Mark Upton President and CEO
Letter from the President
Dear Friends,
Thank you for all you have done over the past year to help strengthen vulnerable children and families in Arizona. Throughout Scripture, we see God's love for children and the family and the command that we love others. You have answered that call generously.
In this newsletter, you will see the fruits of your generosity. For instance, you’ll read about the work CFC is doing in the Alhambra Elementary School District to help teachers provide trauma-informed care to their students. And we are incredibly hopeful that we can expand this training to other districts and communities across Arizona in the years to come.
Together, let’s continue to wrap at-risk children and families with
THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST
.
Through impactful programs such as foster, adoption, family coaching, youth mentorship, STRONG Families, and preschool, CFC served nearly 4,000 children and families in 2025.
Each one of these 4,000 tells a personal story of redemption. Each is a testimony to your love and faith in action.
I invite you to prayerfully consider the ways in which God is calling you to a deeper participation in this ministry this year, whether that’s through STRONG Families, youth mentoring, or even foster care.
We are so grateful for your continued support. Together, let’s continue to wrap at-risk children and families with the love of Jesus Christ. Here’s to a hope-filled 2026 for many more children and families!
