Our Executive Director realized during her time as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), that our Department of Childrens Safety was failing dramatically. If children didn't have a family member to take custody of them, and there wasn't a Foster parent available, they would sometimes resort to sleeping on the floor of the case workers office!
She also witnessed children being victims of trafficking, not be taken care of accordingly to their needs (i.e. counseling, therapy, etc.) instead they become institutionalized. Therefore, being lost to the correctional facilities resulting in growing up behind bars.
It was then that she decided something needed to be done. Sunshine Acres in Mesa, Arizona is the perfect model of what group homes need to be. So that is what Home for New Beginnings is striving to bring to the Verde Valley.
Modeling after Sunshine Acres in Mesa, AZ is the ultimate goal of ours. Sunshine Acres is set apart from any other "group home" establishment with family being the main priority. We have taken several tours of Sunshine Acres, and it is absolutely mind blowing. When people hear group homes, they think rows and rows of cots laid out in one giant, depressing room. We want the opposite of that! With beautifully decorated, themed rooms, gaming spaces, family dining area, homework stations and so much more! We want to change group homes to where we & Sunshine Acres are the new standard!