By focusing on the first five years, we are making a difference in the lives of young children, their families and our communities. Get involved to support Arizona’s young children. First Things First is Arizona’s early childhood agency, with free programs, information and resources to support great childhoods. AZChildhoods.com Our mission is early childhood. Join us.

Helping abuse survivors heal ORGANIZATION Defenders of Children LEADERSHIP Founder: Donnalee Sarda CEO: Johanna Fierstein, MSW ANNUAL BUDGET $750,000 Seeking Justice, Guarding Lives CHARITY SPOTLIGHT Origin Defenders of Children was founded in 2007 by Donnalee Sarda as an Arizona offshoot of the national organization, Justice for Children. Defenders of Children was borne of a desire to do better for child abuse victims in our community. It is a grassroots effort to explore systemic inadequacies and fill gaps in helping families protect children. Located in Central Phoenix, Defenders of Children is a fierce, interdisciplinary team of domestic violence and child abuse experts from the legal, clinical mental health and survivor services-focused social work professions, collaborating under one roof to provide comprehensive services to families. CEO Johanna Fierstein came to the organization after a decade working in private law firms as a paralegal for attorneys focused on family and juvenile law. She had witnessed many failings within the systems designed to protect children, including children and abuse survivors being revictimized through unjust custody orders and antiquated ideas about domestic violence. After years of volunteering with domestic violence and sexual assault victims, Fierstein wanted to help bridge gaps at the intersections of family law, clinical mental health, victims’ rights and child welfare. She worked under the agency’s founder, Donnalee Sarda, who was and is a true warrior for abused and neglected children. Defenders of Childen founder Donnalee Sarda (above left) with former client, Grace, who lost her life in the middle of an ugly custody battle. She is one of the driving reasons the Defenders of Children team fights so hard for survivors. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE | 53