Who We Serve

Kids in Focus gives kids ages 10-18 years, who come from extremely underprivileged backgrounds, a chance to see themselves and their world in a new way. These kids have experienced some form of adversity such as abuse, neglect, poverty, homelessness, death, or critical medical conditions. These traumas can cause them to disconnect from their environments, the people around them, and inevitably, themselves. They can find it difficult to trust and form strong relationships with caring, responsible adults. Their circumstances can stunt emotional growth and self-awareness.

Kids in Focus is honored to play a part in the healing process by providing kids with caring adult volunteers, who model positive methods of communication. The kids have the opportunity to channel their emotions through the expressive art of photography, to learn creative problem solving and build trust working with others.

Kids in Focus connects with youth through partner organizations serving those in need. Our partners include:

• Arizona Friends of Foster Children (providing children in foster care with awards for opportunities that are not funded by government allowances)

• Boys & Girls Club of Metro Phoenix (providing critically needed after-school and summer programs for youth)

• Children First Leadership Academy (a school serving students living at or below the poverty line, the majority of whom are homeless)

• Hope & A Future (a foster care organization that provides programming to current foster kids)

• Phoenix Children’s Hospital (Camp Rainbow serving children with cancer & blood disorders)

• Sequoia Deaf School (a school serving deaf students living at or below poverty line)

• Stepping Stones of Hope (a grief processing organization that provides programs for children and families who have suffered a death loss)

Our list of partner agencies is growing to include shelters, family resource centers, and other youth services and school districts.

Our Grads in Focus program, for KIF alumni students, partners with The Phoenix Mercury, Jerry Colangelo Basketball Classic, Children’s Museum of Phoenix and Mutoh America. We are in process of creating partnerships with Scottsdale Arts, Tempe Center for the Arts and Year UP!