

About Us
The Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (Previously The Governor’s Office For Children, Youth and Families) has transitioned through several Administrations promoting efforts to improve the lives of all our citizens by providing resources and promoting citizen engagement.
Today the office is dedicated to achieving the vision of Governor Doug Ducey of strong, healthy and connected families.
Meet our Director!
Maria Cristina Fuentes serves as Director of the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family.
GOYFF serves vulnerable communities to help prevent and address 5 key areas: child safety, human trafficking, domestic and sexual violence, juvenile justice and substance abuse. Additionally, the office works to strengthen service and volunteerism through the AmeriCorps program and faith-based community engagement.
Previous to Ms. Fuentes appointment, she worked at Casey Family Programs, where she furthered the foundation’s mission to safely reduce the number of children in foster care and improve well-being outcomes of children and families.
Before Ms. Fuentes time at Casey Family Programs, Fuentes served six years in the Administration of President George W. Bush in the U.S. Departments of Labor and Justice. Ms. Fuentes also served in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives working to help states across the country develop and establish their own faith-based initiatives.
To request to have Director Maria Cristina Fuentes to speak at your event click here.

Arizona’s youth and families will become healthier, educated and more productive citizens.
We create a brighter future for youth and families by providing Arizona with programming, resources and expertise.
The Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF) is staffed by individuals dedicated to improving the lives of all individuals in our state and our communities with each staff member having and expertise in one or more of the following issue areas:
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Drug Education
- Human Trafficking
- Violence Prevention
- Juvenile Justice
- Faith and Community Initiatives
- Community Service and Volunteerism
- AmeriCorps
- Youth Service
To achieve our mission GOYFF convenes and staffs the following Commissions, Councils, Partnerships, Task Forces and Work Groups:
- Arizona Human Trafficking Council
- Arizona Juvenile Justice Commission
- Arizona Parents Commission on Drug Education and Prevention
- Arizona Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Tool Kit Task Force
- Arizona Substance Abuse Partnership
- Arizona Substance Abuse Task Force
- Council on Child Safety and Family Empowerment
- Commission To Prevent Violence Against Women
- Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism
- Governor’s Youth Commission
- Substance Abuse Epidemiology Work Group
Maria Cristina Fuentes
Director, Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith Family
mfuentes@az.gov
602-542-1773
Tonya Hamilton
Deputy Director for Grant Management
thamilton@az.gov
602-542-1760
Malcolm Hightower
Deputy Director for Community Engagement
mhightower@az.gov
602-542-3426
Dawna Allington
Program Administrator
dallington@az.gov
602-542-2391
Samuel Burba
Communications Director
sburba@az.gov
602-542-6004
Randy George
AmeriCorps Training Specialist
rgeorge@az.gov
602-364-2678
Annette McGuern Brada
Executive Assistant
amcguern@az.gov
602-542-1773
Sarah Mondragon
Administrative Assistant
smondragon@az.gov
602-542-3463
Sonya Pierce-Johnson
Program Administrator
spjohnson@az.gov
602-542-3496
Steve Selover
Program Administrator
sselover@az.gov
602-542-2393
Jenna Shroyer
Program Administrator
jshroyer@az.gov
602-364-0501
Shelley Baudean
Program Administrator - ASPIRE
sbaudean@az.gov
602-542-1714
Diane Dudley
AmeriCorps Program Administrator
ddudley@az.gov
602-542-3482
Nikki Green
Program Administrator
ngreen@az.gov
602-542-1747
Terrilyn Miller
Faith and Community Initiatives, Director
tmiller@az.gov
602-542-1798
Alexandra O'Hannon
Program Administrator
aohannon@az.gov
602 542-5483
John Raeder III
Justice Program Director
jraeder@az.gov
602-542-1705
Bob Shogren
AmeriCorps, Director
bshogren@az.gov
602-364-2248