May 2023 Newsletter

Camryn is a curious and intelligent child, picking up on things that most of his peers miss. His teachers loved having him in the classroom, but began to notice that he was easily distracted and often struggled to make friends. Over time, Camryn became increasingly quiet and sad.

His foster parents, Jason and Emily, became concerned when they observed similar behavior at home. When they took Camryn to playdates or tried to get him to talk with other adults, he simply shut down and cried. This was when his parents reached out for help. 

“As a father, it was so hard to get through to Camryn, and I worried that we were doing something wrong as parents. We loved him so much and decided that he needed a little more help than we could give him. After asking around, we heard that A New Leaf was a great place to start.” 

After meeting with a therapist, Camryn was enrolled in a supportive after school program at A New Leaf that would help him work towards several clinical goals. It was clear that Camryn needed help coping with his emotions, and also needed a safe space to practice his social skills with peers. At A New Leaf, Camryn would get one-on-one attention for several hours every day to improve in these key areas. 

Importantly, Camryn’s foster parents also worked on making their home a safe space for Camryn to share his feelings openly. Jason and Emily started having daily family meetings, and actively demonstrated how to healthily share thoughts and feelings with one another.  

“We did everything his therapists recommended, and slowly but surely, it worked. After feeling lost for so long, our family was finally coming together.” After a few months of focused effort, Camryn began to open up to his parents and peers. Jason and Emily were delighted to see their child finally connecting with the people around him. 

“After six months of progress, my wife and I decided that we were ready to adopt Camryn. We had wanted to make sure that our home was the best place for him, and A New Leaf helped us realize that he belonged with us. We might not have become the same family without this program.” 

Camryn has now been adopted by Jason and Emily, becoming a permanent member of their family. Thanks to the help he got, Camryn is thriving at home and at school. Sometimes a little compassion and support can change lives, bringing families closer together than they ever thought possible. 

Volunteers have been invaluable in ensuring that urgently needed shelter, food, and support reaches families and individuals in crisis. People like you have served meals in shelters across the Valley, you’ve helped in A New Leaf’s donation center, you’ve brought toys and joy to children during the holidays, and so much more. Your efforts have helped to create a warm and welcoming environment that is essential to helping families overcome a crisis.

If you are interested in helping your local community, get involved today! You can start by applying to our urgently needs volunteer opportunities, we are currently recruiting for the following ongoing roles:

• Front Desk Support at shelters and offices
•  Lead Donation Center Volunteers
•  Shelter Support Volunteers
•  Administrative Volunteers
•  Project and Events Chair

A New Leaf welcomes anyone interested in serving their community to join us at one of our many program locations across the Valley. As a volunteer you will be making a direct impact in the lives of families and individuals in crisis. Please submit an application through our website or email us at Volunteer@turnanewleaf.org.

Imagine being without a roof over your head, without food in your fridge, or without clean clothes to wear. Unfortunately, there are countless individuals across the Valley who are experiencing these difficulties right now. They are in dire need of your help. You can make an incredible difference by donating critically needed items to A New Leaf’s shelter programs. Your contribution of even one of these items can make all the difference to someone in crisis, whether they are fleeing domestic violence or experiencing homelessness. Examples of the most needed items include:

Families in need are turning to A New Leaf in greater numbers than ever before, seeking safety, food, clothing, and other basic necessities. In these challenging times, the kindness of individuals like you can make all the difference. You have the power to help vulnerable households in crisis by donating urgently needed items. Please don’t hesitate, take action now to make a difference.

Does the thought of planning your legacy make your head spin? Does it feel like something only the very wealthy can or should do?  Do you feel you lack the knowledge just to start? You are not alone – roughly 67% of Americans do not have legacy or estate plans in place. However, the good news is that making your plan does not need to be complicated. You just need to take the first step.

Your first step is to find an estate planning attorney.  So, where do you start?

 

1. Ask your friends and family members whom they have used and who they would recommend.

 

2. Create a list of 2-3 names and conduct brief, introductory meetings with each of them. This is key, since planning your legacy is deeply personal, you will want to make sure you are comfortable with whomever you choose.

 

3. Make a final choice and set an official appointment. Your attorney will quickly pull back the curtain that has shrouded this process and reveal that it needn’t be complicated.

Now, pat yourself on the back!  You have just done yourself and those you love a great kindness. If you have questions about the process, or how you may include charity in your plans, we would love to help.  Reach out to Brad Harris, CFRE, CAP® Senior Director of Estate and Gift Planning in A New Leaf’s Philanthropy Department by phone at (602) 320-1185, email at bharris@turnanewleaf.org, or for more information click the button below:

There are many reasons people fall into homelessness, and the lack of affordable housing in the Phoenix Metro area is certainly a major factor. However, for about 25% of the homeless population, access to affordable housing is not the answer. Data published by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Administration in 2020 indicates that over 25% of the homeless population suffers from a severe mental illness.

Mental illness can make it difficult for people to earn a stable income or to carry out daily activities in a way that allow for independent stable housing. While the lack of affordable housing is often cited as the leading cause of homelessness, the lack of mental health services and specialized housing is often not considered. Even if ample affordable housing was available, many individuals with mental illnesses would still struggle with housing stability without additional support. 

A New Leaf’s Permanent Supportive Housing programs are crucial to ensuring housing stability and well-being for people with mental health challenges who have struggled with chronic homelessness. Services are designed to increase independent living skills and connect people to community-based health care, treatment, and employment services. Case management is individualized, and structured services are provided by responsive and caring staff. Services are provided for approximately 180 households annually at three developments, the Desert Leaf and La Mesita Apartments, and Mesa ArtSpace Lofts.

In addition to ending homelessness, research has demonstrated that Permanent Supportive Housing increases housing stability, improves health, and is a cost-effective solution for significantly lowering public costs associated with the use of crisis services. However, there are limited funding resources currently identified for Permanent Supportive Housing Services. It takes investments from our community to ensure these individuals have the support they need – investments from community partners like Banner – University Family Care, who made a first-time grant to A New Leaf this year.

Banner – University Family Care’s Community Reinvestment Program provides philanthropic support to community-based organizations to improve Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) for vulnerable community members, with an emphasis on Health Equity and addressing social risk factors. Health Equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. SDOH are the living conditions that affect a person’s ability to be healthy, and that increase health care costs, and contribute to disparities in health equity.

With the support of community partners, like Banner – University Family Care, A New Leaf can provide critical Housing Support Services to individuals and households who are not able to maintain stability on their own due to mental health challenges. Mental illness is not a choice and there are no “cures”, but people can lead healthy, productive lives if they have the support they need. 

A New Leaf is grateful to Banner – University Family Care for their support and for helping individuals who struggle with mental health challenges maintain housing stability and their well-being. For more information, please contact Laura Bode, Director of Community Engagement, by clicking below:

Thanks to donors like you, the 2023 Camaraderie Gala hosted by A New Leaf was an incredible success! It was a heartwarming event that brought together community members from across the Valley to make a positive difference in the lives of those in need. The Gala not only helped to raise much-needed funds but also provided a platform for people to connect, collaborate, and change lives.

The attendees were an exceptional group of people, filled with a passion for helping others. Local business owners, community leaders, concerned community members, and volunteers came together to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the Valley. It was inspiring to see so many people dedicated to making a real impact and helping those who are struggling the most.

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the attendees, the event raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for shelter programs across the Valley. These vital funds will provide food, shelter, and support to those in need, empowering them to rebuild their lives and achieve a brighter future. It was a shining example of what we can achieve when we come together as a community, united in our desire to make the world a better place. The Camaraderie Gala inspired hope, compassion, and kindness, and it will leave a lasting impact on the lives of those it touched.

We are thrilled to announce that preparations are already underway for the next Camaraderie Gala in 2024! We will be releasing a save the date soon, and we cannot wait to invite you to join us once again. The next event will be an opportunity to continue our important work, to raise awareness of the challenges that our community faces, and to make a real difference in the lives of those who need it the most.

We hope that you will join us once again and that together, we can make an even bigger impact in our community. Stay tuned for further details and get ready to mark your calendars for another unforgettable evening of camaraderie, compassion, and generosity. Your generosity has made a tremendous impact, and we cannot thank you enough!