By Blake Herzog, Photos By Blushing Cactus Photography
Once again it’s time for us to welcome our readers to the annual Women in Business and Leadership issue, where this woman-owned and staffed publication salutes the female leaders and entrepreneurs who have made Greater Prescott a community looked to as a model and/or a future home by people across the state and nation.
Every woman who lives or visits here contributes to the overall vitality of the atmosphere.
We’re presenting the bios of more than 30 women heading up vital businesses and organizations that improve life in our communities, whether they are selling, building, decorating or remodeling homes; caring for us physically or emotionally; enlightening and entertaining us through arts and culture; supporting the most vulnerable in our community through nonprofits; or a multitude of other services that elevate our quality of life.
For 2025, we’re also dedicating this space to support a local agency that assists people of all ages who have been victims of abuse and other interpersonal crimes.
The Yavapai Family Advocacy Center (YFAC) is a one-stop shop where victims can report crimes to authorities, including child or adult domestic abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, human trafficking and a variety of other offenses. Other services include trauma counseling, medical services, forensic interviews and legal assistance from victim advocates and other professionals.
The center, located in Prescott Valley, provides a refuge where victims meet with police officers, investigators and qualified nurses trained to conduct interviews and collect evidence, coordinated to minimize the amount of time victims must spend experiencing the trauma of retelling their stories. Victims often are brought to the center by law enforcement personnel. Adult victims who do not wish to involve law enforcement can also reach out to YFAC for counseling and other services.
Victim advocates offer numerous services including crisis assessment and safety planning, help accessing resources including food and temporary housing, updates and support through the legal process and coordination of meetings between team members working
on specific cases. All conversations with a victim advocate are confidential.
All services are provided to victims at no cost. The Yavapai Family Advocacy Center is funded through government and private grants and individual donors, among other sources. We encourage all our readers to donate to this crucial community service by using the QR code on page 35 or one of the following avenues:
• Donate money at www.yfac.org or make a tax credit donation at www.prescottsunriselionsclub.org/donate.
• In-kind donations
New stuffed animals are always needed. Contact YFAC at info@yfac.org or 928.775.0669 to learn about future needs.
• Volunteer
Help is needed for facility maintenance, sorting clothes and other donations and office work including answering phones, greeting visitors and supervising children. To volunteer, people must submit an application and submit to fingerprinting and a background check. For more information and an application see www.yfac.org/community-outreach.
People start to heal the moment they feel heard. Give to the Yavapai Family Advocacy Center today to begin the healing process.
