Arizona Youth Partnership (AZYP)

Arizona Youth Partnership builds solid foundations for youth and families by partnering with Arizona Communities to provide youth services, prevention programs and health education related to substance use, homelessness, human trafficking, mental health wellness, teen pregnancy, and challenging family dynamics.

AZYP was founded in 1990 by a group of concerned citizens who saw a huge lack of services in rural Pima County and wanted to bring more resources to these areas. Pima Youth Partnership was born in the communities of Ajo, Marana and Sahuarita. In 2006, we changed our name to become Arizona Youth Partnership and expanded to Gila, Apache and Mohave Counties bringing resources to rural communities statewide.

Cultivate Healthy Foundations for Youth: AZYP offers evidence-based relationship education, afterschool, and youth leadership programs. Our programs equip youth to focus on life success goals and work to build healthy relationships, provide shelter services, and prevent alcohol, substance abuse and anti-social behaviors. Over the past 30 years, AZYP has grown to serve 26 school districts across 13 counties in Arizona with funding from the State of Arizona, private foundations, and federal funds.
Our current youth programs include the following:
- Healthy Relationship and Sexual Risk Avoidance Education
- Dating Violence Prevention Education & Advocacy
- WakeUp! a diversion program for offending youth
- Harbor House, Providence Place, and Horizon of Hope Transitional Living residential prevention program for homeless youth in Mohave County
- Programs that feature academic enrichment activities

Promote Strong Families: AZYP family programs offer practical knowledge, strategies and tools to build and sustain healthy marriages, parenting, and economic self-sufficiency.
Our current family programs include the following:
- Stronger Families Project Funded by the Arizona Parents Commission through the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family which utilizes the Strengthening Families Program for parents and youth 10-14 to increase family communication and prevent substance abuse.

Mobilize Communities through Coalitions: AZYP assists community coalitions with resources that facilitate community-wide change focused on prevention of substance abuse and underage drinking funded by a federal Drug Free Communities Grant, Arizona Dept. of Health Services, the Cenpatico Integrated Care and Health Choice Integrated Care.

Testimonials

"We went through this amazing program in the spring, and we learned a lot about how to communicate with one another and what we valued and treasured about each other. I highly recommend this free program and the leaders! Creating space in your busy schedules for this time to grow and connect as a family is absolutely worth it!" - Parent participant of Stronger Families Project

"Dear AZYP staff,
Thank you for teaching this course. It taught me so much more than leadership. I have been going through some things at home, and this taught me communication skills and how to prioritize my mental health. One of the biggest things it taught me though, is to have a healthy relationship. I also learned how to read myself and when to step away to cool down. Please keep doing this, there are so many more tweens and teens that could benefit from this.
With many thanks,
(name removed for confidentiality), 12 years old, 2021."