In March 2023, the AFCCA Foundation for Children Board of Directors voted unanimously to donate $5500 to the A New Leaf to provide therapeutic services in a Spring or Fall Break Camp at Mesa Public Schools.
A New Leaf’s behavioral health program offers therapeutic activities and 1:1 support in a socially positive environment for children who struggle with mental health issues that prevent them from being successful in school and other social settings. Programming is offered at the East Valley After School Program (EVASP) in Mesa, virtually for children who have transportation challenges, and onsite at Webster Elementary School and Kino Junior Hight, with additional Mesa Public Schools sites in process.
Although A New Leaf is reimbursed through AHCCCS for Behavioral Health After School Program costs at a rate per child, these reimbursements do not cover all operating costs for facilitating programming at the EVASP and in schools where it is urgently needed. There is a funding gap of $5,500 to run 1 session per day for two weeks at two sites. These are all utility costs that the schools are not able to cover and that they do not have funds to cover with the AHCCCS reimbursement revenue rates for the kids we serve.
The goal of A New Leaf’s Behavioral Health After School Program is to help children develop the skills needed to regulate and manage their behavior, and cope with depression, anxiety, and other mental and behavioral health challenges so they can be successful in school and transition to school- or community-based programs.
A New Leaf anticipates serving 500 children in 2023. Expected program outcomes are:
- 80% of children will develop positive adult relationships.
- 80% of children will demonstrate an increase in knowledge or skills.
- 80% of children will demonstrate an increase in protective factors.
- 80% of children will demonstrate increased character development.
- 80% of children will demonstrate increased appropriate community skills among peers and staff.
The AFCCA Foundation for Children Board of Directors felt that this was a very worthy cause and the mental health of our children is a priority. We look forward to also holding a volunteer day at A New Leaf in the future to help with facility clean up, painting, supplies and more. We will also be holding a kids program donation drive for art supplies, sporting items/jump ropes, basketballs, footballs, sidewalk chalk and more at this year’s AFCCA Annual Conference in June – we look forward to seeing you there and gathering your donations!
Thank you to all who have donated and supported the AFCCA Foundation for Children to Make this possible!
