Phoenix, Ariz. – At the Arizona Capitol Times’ Best of the Capitol awards ceremony this evening, Darcy Olsen, founder and CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, was recognized as Arizona’s Best Non-Profit Leader.
“This generous award is a testament to the love, sweat, and tireless advocacy of my associates and our supporters and lawmakers who are instrumental in our collective effort to end violence against children,” said Darcy Olsen. “Children can’t fight abuse,” said Olsen, “Together, we can.”
Olsen founded the Center for the Rights of Abused Children with a foster baby in her arms and a mission to unite people to do more, be more, and change more for these children. As a foster parent, she witnessed firsthand the system’s repeated failures, including sibling separations, prolonged cycles of entry and re-entry, and premature deaths.
The Center for the Rights of Abused Children runs a unique pro bono Children’s Law Clinic that provides essential services to child abuse victims. The Center has led efforts in Arizona to secure the right to legal counsel for all abused children in foster care, to ensure the state does not withhold federal benefits due to children, and recently spearheaded successful legislation to help teens find permanent, loving homes before they age out of the system. Since its inception in 2017, the Center’s initiatives have positively impacted over 650,000 children across the nation.