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ARIZONA LEGAL WOMEN AND YOUTH SERVICES

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 463795387 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE I70 · Crime & Legal-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · alwaysaz.org
revenue
$461K
expenses
$428K
net assets
$267K
employees
11
volunteers
10
program ratio
85%
mission · from form 990

NO COST LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE AND TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS TO HELP ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO SAFETY, STABILITY, AND SELF SUFFICIENCY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services (ALWAYS) is a nonprofit community legal center providing no-cost legal services to vulnerable children and youth, as well as survivors of human trafficking in Arizona. The organization focuses on removing legal barriers that hinder access to opportunities, stability, and self-sufficiency for its clients.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Community Law Clinics
Provides on-site legal services at youth-serving organizations in Maricopa and Pima Counties.
New Roads to Success
Supports youth in overcoming barriers to employment and education due to criminal records.
Opportunity Through Immigration
Helps youth and children access legal remedies and pathways to legal status and citizenship.
Safe and Stable Families
Assists with family law cases including protection orders, custody, and tenant rights for youth.
activities · 7 groups

what they do

  • On-Site Legal Clinics for Vulnerable Youth 12 activities
    • Community Law Clinics
      Operates regular Community Law Clinics on-site at various youth-serving programs in Maricopa and Pima Counties, including Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, UMOM in Phoenix, and Our Family Services in Tucson, to provide accessible legal services.
    • Community Law Clinics
      Operates regular on-site Community Law Clinics at various youth-serving programs in Maricopa and Pima Counties, including Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, UMOM in Phoenix, Our Family Services in Tucson, and Phoenix Dream Center in Phoenix, to provide accessible legal services.
    • Community Law Clinics
      Operates regular Community Law Clinics on-site at various youth-serving programs and shelters in Maricopa and Pima Counties, including Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, UMOM in Phoenix, Our Family Services in Tucson, and Phoenix Dream Center in Phoenix, to provide accessible legal services.
    • Community Law Clinics
      Operates regular Community Law Clinics on-site at various youth-serving programs in Maricopa and Pima Counties, including Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, UMOM in Phoenix, Our Family Services in Tucson, and Phoenix Dream Center in Phoenix, to provide accessible legal services.
    • Deliver community legal education and outreach
      Conducts community education on legal rights and issues affecting vulnerable youth through regular Community Law Clinics and partnerships with youth-serving organizations across Maricopa and Pima Counties.
    • Legal Representation for Vulnerable Youth and Trafficking Survivors
      Provides free legal representation and support services to young people impacted by homelessness, human trafficking, abuse, and the foster care system, as well as women and men of any age who are survivors of sex or labor trafficking. This includes cases related to immigration, orders of protection, child custodial issues, employment, education, housing, and addressing prior misdemeanor records.
    • Legal Representation for Vulnerable Youth and Trafficking Survivors
      Provides free legal representation and support services to young people impacted by homelessness, human trafficking, abuse, and the foster care system, as well as women and men of any age who are survivors of sex or labor trafficking. This includes cases related to immigration, orders of protection, child custodial issues, employment, education, housing, and addressing prior misdemeanor records.
    • Legal Representation for Vulnerable Youth and Trafficking Survivors
      Provides free legal representation and support services to young people impacted by homelessness, human trafficking, abuse, and the foster care system, as well as women and men of any age who are survivors of sex or labor trafficking. This includes assistance with immigration, orders of protection, child custodial issues, employment, education, housing, and addressing prior misdemeanor records.
    • Legal Representation for Vulnerable Youth and Trafficking Survivors
      Provides free legal representation and support services to young people impacted by homelessness, human trafficking, abuse, and the foster care system, as well as women and men of any age who are survivors of sex or labor trafficking. This includes assistance with immigration, orders of protection, child custodial issues, employment, education, housing, and addressing prior misdemeanor records.
    • Operate community law clinics for vulnerable populations
      Conducts regular on-site legal clinics at youth-serving organizations such as Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, UMOM, Our Family Services, and Phoenix Dream Center to increase access to legal services for homeless youth and trafficking survivors.
    • Provide legal representation to youth and trafficking survivors
      Offers free legal services to young people impacted by homelessness, human trafficking, abuse, and the foster care system, including representation in immigration, family law, housing, employment, and criminal record clearance matters. Services are provided in Maricopa and Pima Counties through direct legal aid and on-site clinics.
    • Provide legal representation to youth and trafficking survivors
      Provides free legal services to young people impacted by homelessness, human trafficking, abuse, and the foster care system, including individual representation in immigration, family law, housing, employment, and criminal record issues. Services are delivered in Maricopa and Pima Counties through direct legal aid and on-site at partner organizations like Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, UMOM, Our Family Services, and Phoenix Dream Center.
  • Victims' Rights Litigation & Legal Advocacy 6 activities
    • Advocacy for Legislative Reform
      Engages in advocacy efforts for juvenile justice reform, leading to legislative changes such as allowing judges greater discretion to waive fines and fees for record destruction eligibility and changing Arizona law to allow trafficking survivors charged with municipal prostitution violations to be eligible for vacating convictions.
    • Advocacy for Legislative Reform
      Engages in advocacy efforts for juvenile justice reform, leading to legislative changes such as allowing judges greater discretion to waive fines and fees for record destruction eligibility, and inspiring Senate Bill 1422 to allow trafficking survivors charged with municipal prostitution violations to vacate convictions.
    • Advocacy for Legislative Reform
      Engages in advocacy efforts for juvenile justice reform, leading to legislative changes such as allowing judges greater discretion to waive fines and fees for record destruction eligibility, and inspiring Senate Bill 1422 to allow trafficking survivors charged with municipal prostitution violations to vacate convictions.
    • Advocacy for Legislative Reform
      Engages in advocacy efforts for juvenile justice reform, leading to legislative changes such as allowing juvenile court judges greater discretion to waive outstanding fines and fees for record destruction eligibility, and inspiring Senate Bill 1422 to allow trafficking survivors charged with municipal prostitution violations to be eligible for vacating convictions.
    • Advocate for policy and legal reform
      Engages in advocacy efforts that have led to legislative and legal changes, including Senate Bill 1422 to vacate convictions for trafficking survivors and reforms allowing juvenile judges to waive fines for record destruction. The organization also participates in public education campaigns about human trafficking, such as through a Univision hotline.
    • Advocate for policy and legislative reform
      Engages in advocacy efforts that have led to legislative changes, such as Senate Bill 1422 allowing trafficking survivors to vacate convictions, and partnered on juvenile justice reform that expanded judicial discretion in waiving fines and fees for record clearance.
  • Human Trafficking Awareness & Training 6 activities
    • Conduct public education and awareness campaigns on human trafficking
      Participates in public education initiatives about human trafficking, including media outreach through platforms like Univision and presentations to task forces and conferences to raise awareness and improve community response.
    • Professional Training and Capacity Building
      Provides training and serves as faculty for seminars on topics such as human trafficking and domestic violence for legal professionals, social workers, case workers, and community members, including co-hosting a three-day trafficking training seminar and a Youth and Justice Summit.
    • Provide professional training and capacity building
      Hosts and co-hosts trainings, summits, and seminars for legal, social work, and judicial professionals on issues affecting vulnerable youth and trafficking survivors, including a Youth and Justice Summit and multi-day trafficking training. Organizational leadership serves as faculty for State Bar of Arizona seminars on trafficking and domestic violence.
    • Provide training and capacity building for professionals
      Hosts and co-hosts trainings, summits, and seminars for social workers, lawyers, judges, and community members on legal issues affecting vulnerable youth and trafficking survivors. Leadership also serves as faculty for State Bar of Arizona seminars on trafficking and domestic violence.
    • Public Education and Awareness Campaigns
      Participates in public education campaigns about human trafficking, including through presentations to task forces and conferences, and through hotlines like Univision.
    • Public Education and Presentations
      Conducts public education campaigns about human trafficking, including through a Univision hotline, and presents on topics related to human trafficking and racial/ethnic disparities in juvenile justice to task forces and conferences.
  • Legal Immigration Assistance for Vulnerable Populations 6 activities
    • Deliver immigration legal services through accredited representation
      Employs a Department of Justice Accredited Representative to assist clients with applications for Lawful Permanent Residence, U-Visas, T-Visas, VAWA protections, DACA, and other immigration benefits, particularly for victims of trafficking and abuse.
    • Immigration Legal Services
      Assists homeless, human trafficking victims, and abused youth and children in accessing legal remedies for immigration, including applications for Lawful Permanent Residence, U-Visas, T-Visas, protection under the Violence Against Women Act, special visas for abused and abandoned youth, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
    • Immigration Legal Services
      Assists homeless, human trafficking victims, and abused youth and children in accessing legal remedies for immigration, including applications for Lawful Permanent Residence, U-Visas, T-Visas, protection under the Violence Against Women Act, special visas for abused and abandoned youth, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
    • Immigration Legal Services
      Assists clients with applications for Lawful Permanent Residence, U-Visas, T-Visas, and protection under the Violence Against Women Act before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, particularly for homeless, human trafficking victims, and abused youth and children.
    • Immigration Legal Services
      Assists clients with applications for Lawful Permanent Residence, U-Visas, T-Visas, and protection under the Violence Against Women Act before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, particularly for homeless, human trafficking victims, and abused youth and children.
    • Operate immigration legal services for vulnerable populations
      Provides immigration legal assistance to homeless youth, survivors of human trafficking and abuse, and other vulnerable individuals, including help with U-Visas, T-Visas, Lawful Permanent Residence, DACA, and protection under the Violence Against Women Act. Services are supported by a Department of Justice Accredited Representative and funded in part by the Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Child Trafficking Survivor Support 1 activity
    • Engage interns and fellows in legal service delivery
      Involves interns and fellows in client intakes, legal research, and record searches to support the provision of legal services to youth and trafficking survivors.
  • Violence Prevention Awareness & Advocacy 1 activity
    • Professional Training and Capacity Building
      Provides training and serves as faculty for seminars on topics such as human trafficking and domestic violence for legal professionals, social workers, case workers, and community members.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Engage interns and fellows in service delivery
      Utilizes interns and fellows to support client services through client intakes, legal research, and record searches, integrating emerging professionals into direct legal service operations.
    • Professional Training and Capacity Building
      Provides training and serves as faculty for seminars on topics such as human trafficking and domestic violence for legal professionals, social workers, case workers, and community members.
    • Public Education and Awareness Campaigns
      Participates in public education campaigns about human trafficking, including presentations to task forces and conferences, and through hotlines like Univision.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$461K
Contributions & grants$460K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$750%
Other revenue$-10
expenses
Total expenses$428K
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$301K
Grants paid out$18K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$287K
Cash$256K
Investments$0
Liabilities$20K
Net assets$267K
Liquid reserves7.2 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +23.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
VALENTINA RESTREPO-MONTOYA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CEO 40 $50K
board members · 10
  • ASHLEY PACHECO — DIRECTOR
  • BETH ROSENBERG — DIRECTOR
  • HOLLY BARRETT — TREASURER
  • LESLIE ANN COOPER — SECRETARY
  • MARCOS TAPIA — DIRECTOR
  • MARY MITCHELL — VICE CHAIR
  • MARY O'GRADY — CHAIR
  • NANCY BALDWIN — DIRECTOR
  • PATRICIA OROZCO — DIRECTOR
  • RICHARD CREWS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 23

who they work with

  • American Bar Association Partner — Selected ALWAYS as one of the Top Twelve Model Legal Programs Serving Homeless Youth in the United States.
  • Casey Family Programs Partner — Represented by honoree Janet Garcia at the 2022 Heart of Justice Reception.
  • Children’s Action Alliance Partner — Partnered on juvenile justice reform related to public delinquency records and outstanding fines and fees.
  • City of Phoenix Human Trafficking Task Force Partner — The Executive Director presented to the task force.
  • Coalition for Juvenile Justice Partner — Presented at their 2019 Racial Ethnic Disparities Conference.
  • Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking Partner — Co-hosted a three-day trafficking training seminar.
  • Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos Funder — Provides funding for ALWAYS to offer free legal services to U.S. citizens who are victims of human trafficking.
  • National Bank of Arizona Partner — Produced a video about ALWAYS.
  • Native American Connections Partner — Honored at the 2022 Heart of Justice Reception for advocacy and provision of crucial community resources.
  • Our Family Services Partner — Hosts regular Community Law Clinics.
  • Phoenix Dream Center Partner — Hosts regular Community Law Clinics.
  • Retired Judge Colleen McNally Partner — Recognized as a honoree for advocacy and community resource provision.
  • State Bar of Arizona Partner — CEO served as faculty for their Trafficking seminar.
  • Stephanie Preciado, Esq. Partner — Recognized as a honoree for advocacy and community resource provision.
  • The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education Partner — Honored for advocating and providing crucial resources to the community.
  • The Hickey Family Foundation Partner — Honored for advocating and providing crucial resources to the community.
  • Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development Partner — Provided legal services on-site at their facility.
  • UMOM Partner — Hosts regular Community Law Clinics.
  • University of Arizona SIROW Partner — Partnered on juvenile justice reform related to public delinquency records and outstanding fines and fees.
  • Univision Partner — Participated in public education campaigns about human trafficking through a hotline.
  • human trafficking service providers Partner — Organizations collaborating with ALWAYS to support youth impacted by human trafficking.
  • outreach and drop-in centers for homeless youth Partner — Nonprofit service providers collaborating with ALWAYS to support youth impacted by homelessness, human trafficking, and abuse.
  • transitional housing programs Partner — Nonprofit service providers partnering with ALWAYS to support youth affected by homelessness and abuse.