By Philip Haldiman
Twitter: @PhilipHaldiman

Many countries do not have family-style orphan care, like what comes to mind when you think of foster care in the United States.

But an Arizona nonprofit is hoping to change that.

Last week, Peoria-based The Hope Effect signed a contract with the new government of Sonora, Mexico, to continue pioneering family-style orphan care in the capital city of Hermosillo.

This marks the continuation of a partnership formed in 2020, when The Hope Effect became the first nonprofit to receive government approval from Sonora to provide family-style care for orphaned and vulnerable children.

With the new administration came a new contract that expires in six years, the term length of Alfonso Durazo, the newly sworn-in governor of Sonora.

Joe Darago, executive director and co-founder of The Hope Effect, said many states in Mexico only have institutional orphanages, which are detrimental to children’s development.

The Hope Effect wants to change that and facilitate the shift toward family-style care, not only in Mexico but around the world.

Darago said every child deserves a family, rather than institutional orphan care, which has damaging effects on children’s physical, emotional and psychological development.

The Hope Effect will continue to work with Mexico’s government branch Desarrollo Integral de la Familia, or DIF, the country’s closest equivalent to Child Protective Services to facilitate family-style care in Sonora.

“We are so grateful for the privilege of working alongside the DIF for the good of orphaned and vulnerable children in Sonora,” Darago said. “Every child deserves the hope and love only a family can provide.”

Formed in 2014, The Hope Effect expanded its program into two locations in 2021:

• The Michoacán government in Mexico invited the nonprofit to bring family-style care into the capital city of Morelia;

• The Hope Effect expanded into Chiang Mai, Thailand, focusing on reintegration — getting children out of orphanages and into families — and prevention — strengthening families to prevent them from surrendering their children to an orphanage.

The Hope Effect also is working to expand family-style care in Chihuahua, Mexico, and Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras.

To learn more about The Hope Effect’s work, go to hopeeffect.com.

Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.

Philip Haldiman
Senior News Editor | Peoria
@PhilipHaldiman

phaldiman@iniusa.org

Meet Philip
Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.

Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.

Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater. 

Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.

Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.