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UPWARD FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 860221195 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE P8XZ · Human Services · Medium ($1M-$10M) · upwardaz.org
revenue
$1.7M
expenses
$2.1M
net assets
$3.8M
employees
47
volunteers
15
program ratio
85%
mission · from form 990

HELPING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS MEET THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL WHILE EMPOWERING THEIR FAMILIES TO THRIVE.

profile · synthesized from sources

UPWARD FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, also known as Easterseals Blake Foundation, provides comprehensive services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, early childhood education and development programs, and behavioral health services. The organization offers residential support, employment training, and community-based programs for individuals with disabilities, alongside inclusive early learning centers and family support for young children. They operate across Southern Arizona, including Phoenix, Tucson, and Safford.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $610K
    PROVIDE OUTPATIENT THERAPY IN FIVE SPECIALIZED DISCIPLINES INCLUDING: FEEDING/SWALLOWING, OCCUPATIONAL, PHYSICAL, MUSIC, AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE. THE THERAPISTS EXCEED THE STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR LICENSING BY THE STATE OF ARIZONA, AND THEIR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. #2 $568K
    PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS THE BEST ENVIRONMENT IN THE GREATER PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA WITH LOW STUDENT-TEACHER RATIOS, HIGHLY QUALIFIED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, AND A FULL-TIME MEDICAL STAFF.
named programs · 15 · from sources

what they call their work

Behavioral Health Services (Adults)
Offers psychiatric care, therapy, and substance use treatment designed to support adult wellness.
Behavioral Health Services (Children & Families)
Family-centered programs supporting children’s development, behavioral health, and foster care needs.
Blake Employment & Community Living
Provides person-centered support for adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) through residential services, employment training, life skills development, and community-based programs.
Child Care Provider Professional Development
Comprehensive training, coaching, and mental health consultation for early childhood educators across Southern Arizona.
Community Day Programs
Day programs for adults with intellectual and/or physical disabilities.
Inclusive Early Childhood Education Centers
Full-day and full-year care for children ages eight weeks to five years, integrating a Reggio Emilia approach and following Head Start standards. Locations in Phoenix, Tucson, and Safford.
Intensive Outpatient Program For Addiction & Mental Health
Evidence-based treatment helping individuals build recovery skills while maintaining daily routines.
Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-Visiting (MECSH)
Partners families with a nurse to provide education on healthy pregnancy and healthy baby care.
Nurse Home Visitation Program
Connects families with a registered nurse for free, personalized support at home.
Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)
Provides evidence-based home visits for first-time, low-income mothers, offering support, education, and guidance.
Parent & Family Education
Evidence-based programs supporting children's development, positive parenting practices, and family well-being, delivered in homes and communities across Southern Arizona.
Psychiatric Evaluation, Diagnosis, & Treatment
Provides psychiatric care to support mental health.
Supported Employment
Job development, coaching, and employment support for teens and adults with intellectual and/or physical disabilities.
Supported Living
Licensed group residential homes for adults and children with moderate to severe intellectual and/or physical disabilities throughout southern Arizona.
Transportation
Provides access to the community for individuals with disabilities.
activities · 10 clusters

what they do

  • Preschool and Kindergarten Readiness Programs 5 activities
    • Accessible Facilities and Inclusive Environments
      Operates adapted facilities with safe, accessible spaces including sensory zones and adapted playgrounds, maintaining low child-to-teacher ratios to support inclusive care for children with and without disabilities.
    • Early Childhood Education and Care
      Provides full-day, full-year inclusive early childhood education and care for children aged eight weeks to five years, including Head Start and Early Head Start services, in adapted facilities with low child-to-teacher ratios.
    • Early Childhood Education and Care
      Provides full-day, full-year early childhood education and care for children ages eight weeks to five years, including Head Start and Early Head Start services through center-based and home-based programming. Offers inclusive childcare and preschool programs that support learning and development for children with and without disabilities.
    • Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care
      Provides full-day, full-year inclusive early childhood education and care for children aged eight weeks to five years, including Head Start and Early Head Start services, in adapted facilities with low child-to-teacher ratios. This includes inclusive daycare and preschool programs that foster learning and development for children with and without disabilities.
    • Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care
      Provides full-day, full-year inclusive early childhood education and care for children aged eight weeks to five years, including Head Start and Early Head Start services, in adapted facilities with low child-to-teacher ratios. This includes inclusive daycare and preschool programs that foster learning and development for children with and without disabilities.
  • Outpatient Behavioral Health Services 4 activities
    • Behavioral Health Services
      Offers comprehensive behavioral health services, including psychiatric care, therapy, and substance use treatment, for children, families, and adults. This includes evidence-based treatment for addiction and mental health, play-based therapy for young children, and specialty behavioral health services for children aged birth to five.
    • Behavioral Health and Therapy Services
      Offers comprehensive behavioral health services, including psychiatric care, therapy, and substance use treatment, for children (including play-based therapy for young children), families, and adults. This includes evidence-based treatment for addiction and mental health, and specialty behavioral health services for children aged birth to 5.
    • Behavioral and Mental Health Services
      Delivers evidence-based therapy and psychiatric services to children, adults, and families for mental health and substance use disorders. Includes specialty behavioral health services for children birth to five, comprehensive behavioral health programs, and therapy tailored to individual and family needs.
    • Behavioral and Mental Health Services
      Offers comprehensive behavioral health services, including psychiatric care, therapy, and substance use treatment, for children (birth to 5 years), families, and adults, utilizing evidence-based and play-based therapy approaches.
  • Home Visitation for At-Risk Families 4 activities
    • Family Support and Education
      Delivers evidence-based parent and family education services through home visitation support by registered nurses and in communities to support child development and family well-being. This includes early intervention services to identify and advocate for young children with special needs.
    • Family Support and Education
      Delivers free, personalized home visitation support through registered nurses and provides evidence-based parent and family education services in homes and communities to support child development and family well-being.
    • Family Support and Education
      Delivers evidence-based parent and family education services through home visitation and community programs to support child development and family well-being. This includes free, personalized home visitation support by registered nurses for families with young children.
    • Family Support and Home Visitation Programs
      Offers free, personalized home visitation support through registered nurses and delivers evidence-based parent and family education services in homes and communities to promote child development and family well-being.
  • Supported Employment for People with Disabilities 4 activities
    • Support Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
      Provides comprehensive support for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, including employment services in integrated work settings, job coaching, residential and rehabilitative services, money management assistance, and help accessing community events with transportation and funding verification.
    • Support for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
      Provides employment services, money management assistance, and support for accessing community events (including transportation and funding verification) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This also includes residential and rehabilitative services to support independent living.
    • Support for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
      Provides employment services, job coaching, money management assistance, and support for accessing community events (including transportation and funding verification) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This also includes residential and rehabilitative services to support independent living.
    • Support for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
      Provides employment services, money management assistance, community event access support, and residential/rehabilitative services to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure jobs, manage finances, and live independently.
  • Child Developmental & Sensory Screenings 3 activities
    • Developmental Screenings
      Conducts developmental screenings for children.
    • Early Intervention and Developmental Screenings
      Establishes Early Intervention Services to identify and advocate for young children with special needs and conducts developmental screenings for children.
    • Early Intervention and Developmental Screenings
      Establishes Early Intervention Services to identify and advocate for young children with special needs and conducts developmental screenings for children.
  • Foster and Kinship Family Support Services 3 activities
    • Foster Care Support
      Provides emergency resources to children in foster care.
    • Foster Care Support
      Provides emergency resources to children in foster care.
    • Foster Care and Emergency Support
      Operates family-centered programs that address foster care needs and provides emergency resources to children in foster care.
  • Early Childhood Developmental Assessment and Therapy 2 activities
    • Early Intervention and Developmental Support
      Provides early intervention services to identify and support young children with special needs, including developmental screenings and therapy services. Offers play-based therapy and pediatric therapies on-site through partner providers for eligible families.
    • Pediatric Therapy Services
      Offers on-campus pediatric therapies through a partner provider for eligible families.
  • Disability Rights Public Advocacy Events 1 activity
    • Disability Advocacy
      Engages in disability advocacy, recognized for its efforts at national events such as the 100th anniversary of Easterseals National.
  • Non-Emergency Medical & Social Transportation 1 activity
    • Transportation Program
      Operates the Graham & Greenlee Transportation program.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Capacity Building for Early Childhood Educators
      Provides comprehensive training, coaching, and mental health consultation to early childhood educators, including training on creating inclusive environments for children with disabilities.
    • Capacity Building for Early Childhood Educators
      Provides training, coaching, and mental health consultation to early childhood educators and trains childcare professionals to create inclusive environments for children with disabilities.
    • Capacity Building for Early Childhood Professionals
      Provides comprehensive training, coaching, and mental health consultation to early childhood educators and trains child care professionals to create inclusive environments for children with disabilities.
    • Capacity Building for Early Childhood Professionals
      Provides comprehensive training, coaching, and mental health consultation to early childhood educators, and trains child care professionals to create inclusive environments for children with disabilities.
    • Foster Care Support
      Provides emergency resources to children in foster care.
financials · form 990 · fy2021

the money

revenue
Total revenue$1.75M
Contributions & grants$634K36%
Program service revenue$1.11M63%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$2.14M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$1.40M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.45M
Cash$92K
Investments$0
Liabilities$608K
Net assets$3.84M
Liquid reserves0.5 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -1.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DOUG CARTER CEO 40 $147K
board members · 7
  • DANIEL PEREZ — VICE PRESIDE
  • JOS ANSHELL — PRESIDENT
  • MARSHALL PORTER — DIRECTOR
  • MIKE TREADAWAY — DIRECTOR
  • MITCH LITTLE — DIRECTOR
  • PATRICK PAUL — TREASURER
  • TRACEY SUTTON — SECRETARY
relationships · 18

who they work with

  • Aviva Children's Services Partner — Became part of the Easterseals Blake Foundation
  • CARF Network — Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), indicating adherence to high-quality care standards.
  • CARF Partner — Received accreditation
  • Cenpatico Behavioral Health Partner — Recognized as a Center of Excellence
  • Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Southern Arizona Partner — Served as board member and helped expand programs for children with disabilities.
  • Child Parent Centers Partner — Partnered to provide Early Head Start and Head Start programming
  • Division of Developmental Disabilities Services Government — Individuals must qualify for DDD to access respite and habilitation services offered through the organization.
  • Easterseals Government — Honored as Easterseals Child of the Year at age 5 and participated in the Rose Parade for Easterseals National's 100th anniversary in 2019.
  • Easterseals Network — Member of the Easterseals national network
  • Easterseals Blake Foundation Partner — Collaborates with UPWARD FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES in delivering early childhood education and family support services.
  • Easterseals Blake Foundation Partner — Partner organization receiving donations through the Arizona tax credit program
  • Easterseals national Network — Affiliate for Southern Arizona
  • Just for Kids Therapy Partner — Proveedor asociado que ofrece terapias pediátricas in situ para familias elegibles.
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Partner — Accredited the Children's Achievement Center, Palomita Children's Center, and Signal Peak Early Learning Center
  • Nurse-Family Partnership Network — Arizona program affiliate and obtained direct affiliation with the National Service Office to provide programming
  • PACT for Life Partner — Worked with PACT for Life (People with AIDS Coalition of Tucson) to form Tucson's early HIV response.
  • Parents as Teachers Network — Affiliate for national service model and Arizona program affiliate
  • Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation Partner — Served as Director of Programs for Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.