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CHRISTINA: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," HOW ONE ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO IMPROVE FOSTER CARE IN ARIZONA?

>>> ALSO AHEAD, A CLINIC WILL NOW PROVIDE FREE HEALTH CARE TO THE 11,000 CHILDREN IN THE TEMPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>>> PLUS MEET THE AUTHOR OF A MEMOIR THAT TOUCHES ON FAMILY, GRIEF AND MOVING FORWARD.

THESE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

ANNOUNCER: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU?

CHRISTINA: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

A DAM COLLAPSE IN WAR-TORN UKRAINE IS CAUSING FLOODING AND EVACUATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THAT COUNTRY.

MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED.

AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT CAUSED THE DAM TO COLLAPSE.

THE WHITE HOUSE IS MONITORING THE SITUATION.

>>> NEW TEXT MESSAGES OBTAINED BY "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" REVEAL THAT THE CYBER NINJAS, GROUP HIRED TO DO AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS HAD NO WAY TO TALLY THE 2.1 MILLION BALLOTS THEY HAND COUNTED.

THE REPUBLIC REPORTS AFTER THE RESULTS HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE STATE SENATE AND DAYS BEFORE THEY WERE MADE PUBLIC, CYBER NINJAS CEO DOUG LOGAN WAS TEXTING THAT, QUOTE, OUR NUMBERS ARE SCREWY.

THE TEXT MESSAGES LEND CREDENCE TO CRITICISM FROM ELECTIONS EXPERTS WHO LONG QUESTIONED THE RESULTS OF AUDIT.

>>> FORMER TUCSON MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 2 1/2 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THREATENING TO KILL STATE SENATOR WENDY ROGERS, DONALD GLENN BROWN THREATENED TO SHOOT UP A TRUMP STORE LAST JULY 4.

RODGERS WAS IN SHOW LOW FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION.

>>> ARIZONA FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOUNDATION HELPS CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AS WELL AS FOSTER FAMILIES.

THE ORGANIZATION CELEBRATED RECENT KEYS TO SUCCESS GRADUATION AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT IT IS LUIS DE LA CRUZ, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ARIZONA FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOUNDATION, WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME?

CHRISTINA: TELL US ABOUT THE KEYS TO SUCCESS PROGRAM.

>> THIS IS TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE APPARATUS THAT WORKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN FOSTER CARE.

THE TRUTH IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OUTCOMES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN FOSTER CARE VERSUS THE GENERAL POPULATION, THEY TEND TO BE MUCH LOWER, KEYS TO SUCCESS IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED THAT IS HUMAN CENTERED, AND THE OBJECTIVE IS SIMPLE.

WE SAY SUCCESS LOOKS DIFFERENTLY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BECOME A DOCTOR, DON'T HAVE TO BECOME A LAWYER.

YOU CAN BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN, A WELDER, WHATEVER DREAMS ARE WE SUPPORT THEM.

>> YOU HAD 60 GRADUATES, TRANSITIONING OUT OF FOSTER CARE TO INDEPENDENT LIVING, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE GRADUATION IS A MAGNIFICENT EVENT.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ARIZONA FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOUNDATION AND THE LOVE OF FOUNDATION AND THE IDEA IS SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL.

IT'S A BIG PARTY.

THE TRUTH IS WHEN YOU'RE IN FOSTER CARE, YOU DON'T GET TO BE CELEBRATED WHEN YOU GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, YOU DON'T GET A GRADUATION DINNER OR PARTY.

WHAT WE DO IS TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHETHER IT'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE CERTIFICATE OR A FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR DEGREE ATTAINMENT, WE CELEBRATE IT.

>> YOU ARE NOT ALUMNUS OF KEYS TO SUCCESS BUT ALUMNUS OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IN ARIZONA.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE TWO DEGREES, TWO BUSINESS DEGREES AND A MASTERS AND YOU WORK FOR A BIG CONSULTING COMPANY BEFORE YOU TOOK THIS POSITION LAST YEAR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT?

CHRISTINA: WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE?

YOU DIDN'T HAVE KEYS TO SUCCESS, WHAT LED YOU TO SUCCESS?

>> THE TRUTH IS THAT PART OF WHY I DO THIS WORK IS NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS THAT I WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE BECAUSE I WAS VERY FORTUNATE.

I HAD CARING FOSTER PARENTS THAT TOOK CARE OF ME, THAT LOOKED AFTER ME, THAT SUPPORTED ME, AND I HAD AN ENTIRE VILLAGE THAT CAME TOGETHER TO UPLIFT ME.

THE REASON I CAME TO DO THIS WORK IS I HAD A BROTHER THAT DIDN'T.

WE CAME INTO THE SYSTEM BUT OUR JOURNEY IN FOSTER CARE WAS VERY DIFFERENT AND SO WERE THE OUTCOMES.

WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB, IT WAS PERSONAL, TO DO THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT I WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE BUT BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON'T REACH KIDS THAT ARE NOT BEING SERVICED OR SUPPORTED?

CHRISTINA: THERE ARE NEW STATISTICS FROM THE FOUNDATION ABOUT THE TRANSITION, SO FROM YOUNG ADULTHOOD TEENAGERS THROUGH LEAVING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND THERE WAS SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT ARIZONA THAT WE WANT TO TOUCH UPON, AND WE'LL GET ON WHERE WE STILL NEED TO WORK.

ARIZONA KINSHIP GREW FROM 14% IN 2006 TO 38% IN 2021.

QUICKLY EXPLAIN WHAT KINSHIP IS AND WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT?

>> KINSHIP, IF WE CAN'T KEEP KIDS WITH FAMILIES BECAUSE OF SAFETY REASONS, WE SHOULD PLACE THEM WITH FAMILY.

AND THAT HAS BEEN THE GROWING EMPHASIS IN THE SPACE, AND PARTLY IS BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE THAT A CHILD MIGHT BE BETTER WITH A FAMILY MEMBER WHETHER IT BE AN AUNT, GRANDMA OR DISTANT RELATIVE, INSTEAD OF WITH SOMEBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT IS A PERFECT STRANGER.

THAT SAID, I THINK, WHEN YOU LOOK AT TRENDS, FUNDAMENTALLY THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS STAY WITH THOSE FAMILIES, IF WE'RE NOT PROVIDING THE SUPPORT, THE SUPPORT TO THE GRANDMA, THE AUNT, THE DISTANT RELATIVE, THEY WILL END UP IN A COMMUNITY GROUP HOME.

>> MEANING NONBIOLOGICALLY?

>> UH-HUH.

>> ARE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE BETWEEN 14 AND 21 YEARS OLD, ALMOST HALF NATIONALLY HAVE USED EMPLOYMENT OR HOUSING BUT IN ARIZONA IT'S LOW, 29%.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WELL, I WISH I COULD TELL YOU SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THAT IS.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT NUMBER IS TOO LOW.

IT TELLS US THAT WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB DESIGNING SERVICE, MECHANISMS AND SUPPORT THAT ALLOW FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACCESS THEM, TO THRIVE AND NAVIGATE THEM.

WE DESIGNED KEYS TO SUCCESS BECAUSE IT'S HUMAN CENTERED.

THE IDEA IS THAT INSTEAD OF YOU COMING TO US, WE COME TO YOU.

THE IDEA IS WE SAY SUCCESS LOOKS DIFFERENTLY, HOW DO WE SUPPORT THAT?

NOT JUST THROUGH THE HUMAN INTERACTION BUT THE AUXILIARY ELEMENTS THROUGH FUNDING AND OTHER PIECES.

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DRILL DOWN INTO THE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DRILL DOWN INTO THE ACADEMIC SERVICES INTO THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ACCESS THROUGH THE TRANSITIONAL SERVICES.

IT'S LESS THAN 1%.

WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO?

CHRISTINA: YOU JUST HAD THE GRADUATION WITH 60 GRADUATES FROMDIES SUCCESS.

ABOUT 1,000 YOUNG PEOPLE AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE IN ARIZONA EVERY YEAR.

>> YES?

CHRISTINA: CAN YOU HANDLE HUNDREDS MORE?

>> NO, WE CAN'T.

THE TRUTH IS WE'RE A PRIVATE FOUNDATION TRYING TO FILL A GAP THAT EXISTS IN SOCIETY, AND TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

WHEN I SAY KEYS TO SUCCESS IS THE GOLD STANDARD OF THIS WORK, I MEAN IT AND BELIEVE THAT, BUT IT ALSO MAKES ME SAD BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND WE CAN'T DO IT.

>> WHERE CAN PEOPLE GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOUNDATION AND HOW TO HELP?

>> TWO WAYS.

THE FIRST ONE IS VISIT FOUNDATION IN PERSON, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND OUR WORK.

THE OTHER WAY IS ELECTRONICALLY, FIND OUT WAYS TO HELP AND SUPPORT?

CHRISTINA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, LUIS.

YOU ARE DOING GOD'S WORK, FOR SURE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S PROPER TO SAY.

HOPEFULLY I DIDN'T OFFEND ANYBODY, SORRY.

>>> AFTER THE BREAK, WE WILL DISCUSS A CLINIC THAT WILL PROVIDE FREE HEALTH CARE TO STUDENTS AND STAFF IN THE TEMPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

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CHRISTINA: SONORAN UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES WILL PROVIDE FREE HEALTH CARE TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AT TEMPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE FIRST COMMUNITY CLINIC IN TEMPE, AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT IT IS KAYTE NETTLES DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND RELATIONS AND MICHELE GRIMALDI, WRAPAROUND SERVICES DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

THAT'S A LONG TITLE.

THANK YOU, BOTH AND, YES, YOU LOOK AT ME.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> LET'S START WITH YOU, KAYTE.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW THIS IDEA CAME ABOUT, FIRST?

>> SONORAN UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN PROVIDING FREE HEALTH CARE IN MARICOPA COUNTY SINCE 1996, AND WE HAVE NOT EVER SERVED THE TEMPE COMMUNITY, THOUGH WE'VE BEEN IN TEMPE SINCE 1996 AND IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO CHANGE, AND WE THOUGHT THE TEMPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS THE PERFECT PARTNER AND PROVIDE CARE IN DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO WE HAVE EXPERIENCE DOING THIS IN THE ROOSEVELT AND MURPHY DISTRICTS AND WANTED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE AN IMPACT, BUT RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD?

CHRISTINA: HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

THIS IS FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILY, RIGHT?

>> TEMPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS 22 PROUD SCHOOLS, FOUR COMPREHENSIVE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, TWO K-8, AND THE REST ARE ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

YES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND OUR STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO THIS PARTNERSHIP?

CHRISTINA: WHAT KIND OF SERVICES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, KAYTE?

>> PROVIDE A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES, PREVENTIVE CARE THAT LOOKS AT WHOLE PERSON, OUR DOCTORS HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PULL FROM TOOLBOX AND CAN USE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, BOTANICAL MEDICINE, PHYSICAL MEDICINE, NUTRITION, IT'S A WIDE VARIETY.

WE CAN SEE KIDS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL PHYSICALS OR SEE ADULTS FOR ACUTE ILLNESS.

ANYTHING REALLY THAT SOMEONE NEEDS HELP WITH.

>> WE KNOW THAT GETTING QUALITY HEALTH CARE BENEFITS THE INDIVIDUAL AND BENEFITS FAMILIES, MICHELE, HOW DOES IT BENEFIT SCHOOLS?

>> LET ME START.

IN ORDER FOR A STUDENT TO REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR EDUCATION AND BE HEALTHY IN THE CLASSROOM, THEY HAVE TO BE HEALTHY OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, WHETHER THAT'S MEDICAL PARTNERSHIP OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP.

ANY TIME THAT YOU CAN HELP A STUDENT FEEL GOOD, THEY'RE GOING TO PERFORM BETTER IN THE CLASSROOM?

CHRISTINA: AND I IMAGINE THAT THERE'S SORT OF A DOMINO EFFECT, RIGHT?

IT'S HEALTHIER FOR TEACHERS TO BE IN A CLASSROOM WHERE CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY AND PAY ATTENTION.

>> THERE YOU GO?

CHRISTINA: WHAT OBSTACLES ARE YOU ABLE TO REMOVE BY OFFERING THIS COMMUNITY CLINIC?

>> I THINK THE ACCESS TO CARE AND THE FACT WE'RE LOCATED IN TEMPE, SO HOPEFULLY THE TEMPE COMMUNITY HAS EASY ACCESS TO OUR FACILITY, LOCATED OFF OF BROADWAY AND THE 101.

THERE'S A COUPLE SCHOOLS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET US FROM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SERVE ANYONE WITH A CONNECTION WITH THE TEMPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT?

CHRISTINA: HOW WILL YOU KNOW THIS IS SUCCESSFUL?

YOU WERE TALKING AND PLANNING THIS, HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?

>> THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE, OUR STUDENTS GETTING TREATMENT SENIOR THAN LATER, IS THAT QUALITY CARE FOR THEM.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, HOW MANY STUDENTS, FAMILIES TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE PARTNERSHIP?

SO WE'RE TRACKING THE DATA, AND I TAKE IT AS WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP BEFORE, SO ANY INTERVENTION THAT WE PUT IN PLACE IS ICING ON THE CAKE?

CHRISTINA: KAYTE, WHAT BENEFIT IS THERE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS?

>> SO IT'S PART OF OUR COLLEGE OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE THAT EDUCATION IS THROUGH THE CLINICS, THEY ARE PART OF THE CLINICAL CARE ALONG WITH LICENSED PHYSICIAN OVERSEEING THE CARE, THEY GET WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCES PROVIDING CARE AT COMMUNITY CLINICS.

THERE IS GREAT BENEFIT TO THEM?

CHRISTINA: MICHELE, HOW ARE YOU LETTING STAFF AND STUDENTS AND FAMILY GO?

>> WE HAVE GREAT WORD OF MOUTH.

WHEN FAMILIES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES, THEY TELL NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, THEY TELL COUSINS, EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE AN AVENUE THROUGH DISTRICT AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.

PEACH JAR, GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES ELECTRONICALLY, WE PUT IT IN OUR SCHOOL NEWSLETTERS, WE EDUCATE OUR NURSES AND ADMINISTRATORS THAT IF A STUDENT SHOWS UP WITH PINK EYE AT ANY SCHOOL, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP THEY CAN SEND THE FAMILY TO TO GET SERVICES RIGHT AWAY AND GET CLEANED UP?

CHRISTINA: YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIND URGENT HEALTH CLINIC?

OH, WOW.

KAYTE, YOU MENTIONED WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED.

THE COMMUNITY CLINIC, WHERE IS IT?

WHAT ARE THE HOURS?

>> LOCATED OFF OF BROADWAY AND THE 101, WE CURRENTLY SERVE PATIENTS IN THE TEMPE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM 3:00 TO 7:00.

PEOPLE CAN GO ONLINE AND LEARN ABOUT OUR CLINIC, IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN MAKE APPOINTMENT, THEY CAN CALL 970-0000 AND WE ARE OPEN OUTSIDE OF THE 3:00 TO 7:00 HOUR, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL DURING THAT TIME.

>> I THINK I WILL REMEMBER THAT NUMBER.

A LOT OF ZEROS IN THERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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CHRISTINA: TV PERSONALITY TERESA STRASSER'S LATEST NOVEL IS PUBLISHED TODAY, "MAKING IT HOME" IS ABOUT FAMILY, GRIEF AND MOVING FORWARD.

THE BOOK IS HEART FELT, SURPRISINGLY HUMOROUS, I WAS SURPRISED, I'M NOT A BIG BASEBALL PERSON.

BUT WELCOME TERESA STRASSER, YOU TURNED ME ONTO LITTLE LEAGUE?

>> THOUGH.

I WASN'T A BIG BASEBALL PERSON BUT LEARNED HOW TO SPEAK BASEBALL DURING THE SEASON I WRITE ABOUT IN "MAKING IT HOME."

>> YOU DESCRIBE IT AS A GRIEF GROUP FOR TWO BEHIND THE FIRST BASELINE.

WHAT LED UP TO THIS?

>> THIS IS ABOUT ONE SEASON OF BASEBALL THEY SPENT WITH MY DAD WATCHING MY OLDEST SON PLAY, AND YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WAY TOO INTO LITTLE LEAGUE, THEY HAVE NO PERSPECTIVE.

YOU ARE KIND OF EMBARRASSED FOR THEM, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW MY DAD AND I WERE NOT THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE WERE TEN TIMES WORSE THAN THOSE PEOPLE.

MY DAD WAS BASICALLY LIKE A BALD, JEWISH, TRAILER PARK BOB COSTAS, AND HE AND I WOULD TEXT BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE LINEUP AND WHO WE THOUGHT SHOULD BE PITCHING.

SO DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE SEASON BECAUSE MY BROTHER HAD DIED.

HE DIED OF CANCER AT 47, HE WAS A BASEBALL PLAYER, AND MY MOM DIED FOUR MONTHS TO THE DAY OF MY BROTHER.

I KNOW, WAY TO BRING DOWN THE ROOM.

THAT WAS OUR GRIEF GROUP, WE WERE SO DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE GAME OF BASEBALL.

IT GAVE US A ROUTINE, NORMALCY, AND THERE'S SOMETHING BAKED INTO THE GAME OF BASEBALL ITSELF, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT A BIG BASEBALL FAN, BUT IT'S A GAME WITH NO CLOCK.

>> OKAY, THIS WAS A GRIEF GROUP, BACK TO THE GRIEF GROUP.

WAS THIS A, YOU SIT DOWN NEXT TO YOUR DAD, TONIGHT'S TOPIC IS THIS, OR WAS IT LIKE A COMIC?

HOW WAS IT INVOLVED?

>> NOT YOUR TYPICAL GRIEF GROUP BECAUSE WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT GRIEF.

>> VERY HEALTHY.

>> THE ONLY LOSSES THAT MY DAD WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WERE THE LOSSES ON THE DIAMOND, AND YET THERE WAS A WAY IT HELPED US REMEMBER MY BROTHER.

IT'S A GAME WITH NO CLOCK.

NOT TO GET TOO MYSTICAL ABOUT IT, BUT A GAME OF BASEBALL COULD THEORETICALLY GO ON FOREVER, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT CONNECTS THE PAST AND THE PRESENT.

THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT AND THE LIVING WITH THE DEAD.

MY BROTHER HAD PLAYED.

WHEN YOU LOSE SOMEBODY TO CANCER, THE WAY THAT THEY DIE, THE WAY THEY WERE WHEN THEY WERE SICK, THAT'S NOT THE WAY YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THEM BUT IT'S VERY HARD NOT TO.

IN THAT SEASON OF LITTLE LEAGUE, THE MORGAN, WHO WAS MY BROTHER, THAT CAME ALIVE US TO WAS THE HEALTHY VIBRANT, YOUNG BASEBALL PLAYER.

THE MORGAN THAT WE REMEMBERED WAS THE COID FIRST BASE THAT NEVER MISSED A GROUNDBALL, THAT KNEW HOW TO PLAY THE BOUNCE.

WASN'T AFRAID OF A FASTBALL AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HE DIED, MY DAD AND I COULD REMEMBER A VERSION OF MY BROTHER WE WANTED TO REMEMBER.

IN THAT WAY, BASEBALL RESURRECTED HIM.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF FUNNY LINES IN THE BOOK, BECAUSE I SAID, THIS SOMEBODY WAS IRRITATING YOU, IN THIS CASE, IT WAS YOUR DAD.

HE SAYS YOU'RE LUCKY I STARTED MEDITATING.

YOU STARTED MINDFULNESS, TRIED GRIEF GROUPS ON YOUR OWN.

>> I WAS A GRIEF GROUP DROPOUT.

I COULDN'T HACK IT.

BASEBALL WAS THE ONLY GRIEF GROUP.

BASEBALL REALLY BROUGHT US TOGETHER, WHEN YOU ARE SO NERVOUS, AND I HAVE WHAT I CALL PITCHER'S MOM SYNDROME, YES, IS PMS, SO, SO NERVOUS, AND NOBODY CARED AS MUCH ABOUT MY OWN KIDS AS MY DAD.

SO HE AND I WERE JUST ONE NERVOUS SYSTEM FUSED TOGETHER BEHIND THE FIRST BASELINE, IT JUST MADE ME ACCEPT ALL OF THE THINGS ABOUT HIM THAT BOTHERED ME.

BIG AND SMALL FROM THE WAY HE CHEWED TO THE KIND OF FATHER HE'D BEEN.

HERE WE WERE INNING AFTER INNING, PITCH AFTER PITCH, IN THE MUTUAL FOX HOLE, NINE AND TEN-YEAR-OLDS PLAYING BASEBALL, WE WERE SO INTO IT EVERY GAME WAS A WORLD SERIES TO US.

>> YOU WROTE YOU WANTED YOUR FATHER TO BE NORMAL TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF AND HIS KIDS.

YOU WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MEMORIES FROM CHILDHOOD.

DID YOU GET IT?

>> YEAH, ARCADIA LITTLE LEAGUE WHERE THIS TAKES PLACE.

GRANDPARENTS WOULD SHOW UP AND THEY HAD A NICE CAR AND COUNTRY CLUB LOOK, MY DAD WAS A MECHANIC, LIVED IN A SINGLE WIDE TRAILER AND RODE HIS BIKE AND HE WOULD PARK IT IN LEFT FIELD AND COVER IT WITH A BED SHEET BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT THE SUN TO BAKE HIS BIKE.

MY DAD WOULD ROLL UP AND SHAVES HIS HEAD WITH 99 CENT STORE RAZORS, SO THERE WERE SCABS AND LOSE HALF HIS TEETH.

BIG GIANT SUN HAT.

HE WASN'T NECESSARILY THE DAD THEY THOUGHT THEY WANTED, BUT BY THE END OF THE SEASON, I REALIZED, MY DAD IS THE ONLY GRANDPARENT THAT'S BEEN HERE EVERY SINGLE GAME.

HE WOULD NEVER MISS A GAME, AND I THOUGHT THERE'S NOBODY ELSE I WOULD WANT WITH ME ON THE SIDELINES OTHER THAN MY DAD.

I DON'T WANT HIM TO BE ANY DIFFERENT.

WHEN I STARTED WRITING THIS BOOKS I THOUGHT IT WAS A HERO'S JOURNEY AND I WAS THE HERO.

LOOK HOW I'VE SURVIVED THESE AWFUL THINGS AND HOW I'VE WALKED THROUGH THE GRIEF TO BE A BETTER PARENT THAN WHAT I HAD, BUT MAYBE MIDWAY THROUGH THE BOOK, I REALIZED I'M WRITING A HERO'S JOURNEY BUT THE HERO IS MY DAD.

THE TYPE OF GRIEF HE HAD TO WALK THROUGH IS SOMETHING I CAN'T IMAGINE, AND THE WAY HE DID IT IS SO BRAVE AND BEAUTIFUL.

MAYBE IT WASN'T MY WAY OF TALKING ABOUT IT AND DISCUSSING OUR FEELINGS, BUT HE WAS ALWAYS THERE, AND I WRITE IN THE BOOK ABOUT HOW HE KEPT A LOT OF PICTURES OF MY BROTHER AND A LOT OF HIS STUFF IN HIS SHED NEAR A TRAILER, THAT'S HOW HE WAS WITH HIS GRIEF.

HE DIDN'T WANT A PICTURE ON THE REFRIGERATOR BUT WASN'T GOING TO SHUT THE DOOR ON IT.

IT WASN'T FAR FROM HIM, IT WAS CLOSE, AND THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.

>> IF PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, YOU'RE AT CHANGING HANDS BOOKSTORE IN PHOENIX AT 6:00.

GREAT LOCATION.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

- Another powerful edition of Arizona Horizon.

That has been a part of the news and public affairs programming in the Grand Canyon state for as long as I can remember.

When I came to Arizona back in 1988 as a young journalist in Lake Havasu City,