About the C.A.R.E. Fair
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C.A.R.E. Fair
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| Attendees receive free gun locks |
| Attendees receive free car seats |
What is C.A.R.E. Fair?
C.A.R.E. Fair is an annual health and safety event that takes place in late July,
before the start of the school year, at Sunnyside High School. Agencies from
across Arizona come together to provide assistance to families in need of health
and human services. For a complete list of services provided at C.A.R.E. Fair,
click here.
Why was C.A.R.E. Fair created?
A major barrier preventing limited-income families from receiving community and
government assistance is getting to various agencies, located throughout the city,
in a timely manner. Specifically, public and private health and social service
agencies are rarely co-located. Therefore, the client must endure the hardship of
following through on referrals to programs for which they are eligible.
Historically, the most difficult populations to reach are low-income, minority
individuals who have difficulty comprehending the myriad of forms frequently
required. Additionally, in Pima County, the need for bilingual staff is imperative,
but not always available at the agencies. This maze is further complicated by
inadequate transportation, conflicting appointment times, traditional hours of
service (i.e., Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm), and long waiting lines. Despite
strong efforts by caring agency staff referring clients among these programs,
many needy families “fall through the cracks”, especially those with children.
Eliminating this barrier was the objective of an ad hoc committee of
representatives from Tucson agencies involved in providing services to limited–
income families. Each year since 1989, over 40 health and human service
agencies have come together to provide a “one-stop shopping” event. In 2006,
over 10,000 limited-income individuals received extensive direct assistance.
Services are provided on a Friday and Saturday, including evening hours, just
prior to the start of the school year. Rather than scheduling as many as 40
separate appointments over several months, clients availed themselves of
benefits on one day, at one site, in just a few hours. The Children’s Assistance
and Resource Event effectively precludes these families from “falling through the
cracks” of the bureaucracy.
Who coordinates the C.A.R.E. Fair?
A steering committee, comprised of members of various health and human
services agencies throughout Arizona, meets throughout the year to organize and
manage the event. The steering committee is divided into the following sub-
committees:
For a current list of the C.A.R.E. Fair Steering Committee Members, click here
(PDF)
During the event, community volunteers of all ages and backgrounds join the
more than 40 agencies who attend the event to provide services. If you would like
to volunteer for the event, click here. If your agency would like to participate in
C.A.R.E. Fair, click here.
Who supports C.A.R.E. Fair?
The C.A.R.E. Fair would not be possible without the generous donations of
equipment and funds from many individuals, agencies and foundations. For a list
of C.A.R.E. Fair supporters, click here.
C.A.R.E. Fair is an annual health and safety event that takes place in late July,
before the start of the school year, at Sunnyside High School. Agencies from
across Arizona come together to provide assistance to families in need of health
and human services. For a complete list of services provided at C.A.R.E. Fair,
click here.
Why was C.A.R.E. Fair created?
A major barrier preventing limited-income families from receiving community and
government assistance is getting to various agencies, located throughout the city,
in a timely manner. Specifically, public and private health and social service
agencies are rarely co-located. Therefore, the client must endure the hardship of
following through on referrals to programs for which they are eligible.
Historically, the most difficult populations to reach are low-income, minority
individuals who have difficulty comprehending the myriad of forms frequently
required. Additionally, in Pima County, the need for bilingual staff is imperative,
but not always available at the agencies. This maze is further complicated by
inadequate transportation, conflicting appointment times, traditional hours of
service (i.e., Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm), and long waiting lines. Despite
strong efforts by caring agency staff referring clients among these programs,
many needy families “fall through the cracks”, especially those with children.
Eliminating this barrier was the objective of an ad hoc committee of
representatives from Tucson agencies involved in providing services to limited–
income families. Each year since 1989, over 40 health and human service
agencies have come together to provide a “one-stop shopping” event. In 2006,
over 10,000 limited-income individuals received extensive direct assistance.
Services are provided on a Friday and Saturday, including evening hours, just
prior to the start of the school year. Rather than scheduling as many as 40
separate appointments over several months, clients availed themselves of
benefits on one day, at one site, in just a few hours. The Children’s Assistance
and Resource Event effectively precludes these families from “falling through the
cracks” of the bureaucracy.
Who coordinates the C.A.R.E. Fair?
A steering committee, comprised of members of various health and human
services agencies throughout Arizona, meets throughout the year to organize and
manage the event. The steering committee is divided into the following sub-
committees:
- Fundraising
- Family safety services
- Medical services
- Volunteers
- Participating agencies
- Food
- Facilities
- Babysitting
- Publicity
- Evaluation
For a current list of the C.A.R.E. Fair Steering Committee Members, click here
(PDF)
During the event, community volunteers of all ages and backgrounds join the
more than 40 agencies who attend the event to provide services. If you would like
to volunteer for the event, click here. If your agency would like to participate in
C.A.R.E. Fair, click here.
Who supports C.A.R.E. Fair?
The C.A.R.E. Fair would not be possible without the generous donations of
equipment and funds from many individuals, agencies and foundations. For a list
of C.A.R.E. Fair supporters, click here.
Click on pictures to enlarge