St Jude/Casa De Maria Care

Pros

• The facility is very nice and clean.
• The staff are amazing.
• The child loves attending the sessions.
• The Casa staff are great with the kids.
• The NP is very helpful.
• The building is modern and well maintained.
• The center is clean.
• The services for children and families are great.
• They are very helpful and supportive.
• Their services are very effective.
• The caseworker is amazing.
• The organization is superb.

Cons

• The front desk personnel are lacking professionalism.
• The kids' play area is not very clean.
• The therapist wasn't in the office on the scheduled day, and the staff didn't seem to care.
• They struggle to differentiate between supportive families and abusive ones, and the approach needs to be different.
• There is a lack of stability due to frequent changes of coordinators and therapists.
• The medication management provider was incompetent and made dangerous recommendations.
• The therapist spent most sessions playing card games with the patient, talking about her own life, and pushing her own agenda.
• They filed a retaliatory complaint with DCS that contained fabricated details.

Review

The collection of reviews paints a picture of a program that many families find helpful and welcoming, even loving, but that also struggles with consistency, communication, and administrative smoothness. Across the messages, the most consistently positive themes center on warm, friendly staff who genuinely seem to care about children. Parents report that their kids enjoy visits, feel supported, and respond well to the people who work with them. Several reviewers mention specific individuals in glowing terms, noting that certain nurses practitioners (NPs) and caseworkers have made meaningful differences for their families. The environment is often described as modern, welcoming, and focused on kids, with repeated praise for the way staff interact with children and emphasize family involvement.

On the bright side, many families emphasize the personal warmth and dedication of the team. Statements like "the staff is amazing," "my child loves the sessions," and "the staff are friendly and they take good care of my child" recur throughout. A number of reviewers highlight individual staff members - Jose and Francis as particularly helpful caseworkers, and Jackie Z for an appointment - whose efforts stand out even when other aspects of the program are less consistent. There's also appreciation for the organizational effort once a steady clinician or caseworker is in place, with references to effective support for autistic or special-needs children and to staff who communicate well with families. Several reviewers note the physical space positively, describing it as clean, modern, and well-kept, with some pointing to the value of a well-maintained building for comfort and trust.

However, beneath that positive sentiment, a substantial thread of concerns runs through many reviews. A recurring worry is inconsistent staffing and turnover: coordinators and therapists change frequently, and as a result, families feel they're never quite sure who will be handling their child's care or how stable that relationship will be. One parent recounts a long chain of changes - from a highly regarded NP to a replacement who "was incompetent and made dangerous recommendations" - and describes needing to seek care elsewhere as a result. Another mentions multiple case workers in a relatively short period, with uncertainty about the continuity and effectiveness of the therapy itself. The lack of stability is not only emotionally taxing for families; it also undermines trust when families perceive that key clinicians are moving on or being reassigned.

Scheduling and communication challenges appear as another significant friction point. Several reviews describe situations where appointments were confirmed but later not honored, leading to long waits or last-minute clarifications. A notable incident involved a 5 pm appointment that appeared to be on the schedule, only for the therapist to be unavailable; this culminated in frustration and a formal complaint from a parent. In some cases, families feel that the front desk or administrative staff mishandled scheduling or failed to relay important information about rescheduling, which compounds the stress families already feel when coordinating around a child's care.

The reviews also reveal more serious concerns about the depth and direction of care. A subset of parents questions the approaches used by staff - ranging from therapy focus (play-based, analogies to personal life) to medication management - and some report regrettable experiences with medications and case management. There are strong warnings about potential conflicts of interest and implications for families involved with child services (DCS), with at least one reviewer using terms like "retaliatory complaint" and "not impartial" in describing interactions with the organization. These accounts emphasize the importance of transparent, independent, and aligned care between families, clinicians, and any oversight bodies.

Issues of cleanliness and the physical environment appear with mixed signals as well. While several reviewers commend a clean, well-maintained, and safe space for meetings, others raise concerns about a play area that isn't as clean as expected. The contrasts here mirror the broader theme: even when the therapeutic staff is praised for kindness and professional behavior, ancillary aspects of the experience - facility upkeep, front-desk professionalism, and consistency of care - can significantly color overall impressions.

Overall, the message is a nuanced one: many families value the core mission of Casa De Los Ni?os and the dedication of several clinicians and caseworkers who connect well with children and families. Yet the path to a consistently positive experience is hampered by turnover, inconsistent staffing, scheduling hiccups, and concerns about how care is coordinated with other agencies. For families considering this program, the practical takeaway is to seek explicit assurances about staff assignments and continuity, verify appointment and scheduling processes, ask for a clear plan for medication and therapy, and weigh the pros and cons in light of available alternatives and the specific needs of their child. In short, the organization shows real potential and has earned appreciation from many, but it also requires careful navigation and clear communication to ensure a stable, reliable experience for every family.

This area of Tucson, Arizona offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle down in a vibrant community. With close proximity to various restaurants such as Tacos Apson and Culver's, as well as popular chains like McDonald's and In-N-Out Burger, dining options are plentiful. Access to healthcare services is also readily available with multiple physicians' offices and hospitals nearby, including the VA Medical Center and St Mary's Hospital. Pharmacies such as Fry's Pharmacy and Walgreens are conveniently located for medication needs. For leisure activities, residents can enjoy movies at Century Theaters at Tucson Marketplace or take a stroll in Reid Park. Additionally, there are cafes like Starbucks and Exo Roast Co. for socializing with friends or relaxing with a cup of coffee. Places of worship such as St Augustine Cathedral and Islamic Center Tucson provide spiritual support within the community. Overall, this part of Tucson offers a well-rounded living experience with easy access to essential services and recreational opportunities.

Restaurants

• Tacos Apson (0.4 miles)
• Taqueria Pico De Gallo (0.8 miles)
• El Torero Restaurant (1.4 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1.5 miles)
• Culver's (2.1 miles)
• Barrio Brewing Co. (2.2 miles)

Physicians

• Savahcs Saguaro Clinic (1 miles)
• Clinica Del Alma (1.5 miles)
• El Rio Health Center (2.3 miles)
• Arizona Institute of Urology (2.9 miles)
• Gambro Healthcare (3 miles)
• Tucson Vascular Specialists (3 miles)
• UAMC South Campus Outpatient Clinics (3.1 miles)

Hospitals

• VA Medical Center (1.1 miles)
• VA Hospital Building 80/Lab (1.1 miles)
• St Mary's Hospital (3 miles)
• University of Arizona Healthcare Hospital (3 miles)
• Arizona Cancer Center (3.6 miles)
• Tucson Natural (3.7 miles)
• The University of Arizona Medical Center - Medicine Clinic Physician Offices (4.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Fry's Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• The Downtown Dispensary (2.9 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)

Theaters

• Century Theaters at Tucson Marketplace (1.7 miles)
• The Loft Cinema (4.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Exo Roast Co. (2 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.1 miles)
• Cartel Coffee Lab (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Augustine Cathedral (2.2 miles)
• Islamic Center Tucson (3.5 miles)
• Our Saviour's Lutheran Church (4.1 miles)
• Apostolic Bethel Temple (4.2 miles)
• Benedictine Sanctuary (4.5 miles)

Transportation

• Union Pacific Railroad (2.5 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (2.7 miles)
• Ascent Aviation Services (4.4 miles)

Parks

• Reid Park (3.7 miles)
• Joaquin Murrieta Park (4 miles)