Elevate AZ | Spring 2020

National Bank of Arizona®

Arizona’s well-being industry reaches new heights

GOOD HEALTH, GOOD BUSINESS

SUSTAINABLE SEDONA

City in the red rocks continues to grow and thrive

WELLNESS WORKS

The economics of mental health in Arizona

SPRING 2020

spring

INTO ACTION

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1) Offers subject to credit approval. Terms and conditions apply. APRs effective as of 03/16/2020 and subject to change without notice. Completed applications must be received by 06/19/2020 and closed by 09/18/2020 to qualify for promotional offers. Minimum loan amount $10,001. Collateral must be owner-occupied single-family residential property, second home or vacation home including condos, townhomes and eligible double-wide manufactured homes with affixed lot located in Arizona. Property insurance is required. Automatic payment from an NB|AZ® deposit account is required. An early closure fee of $500 - $1,000 may apply if closed within the first 3 years. Offers apply to new Home Equity Lines of Credit. See a banker for full details.

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in this issue

FEATURES

16 Good Health, Good Business

Three Arizona businesses focused on optimizing your well-being

22 Sustainable Sedona

DEPARTMENTS

Arizona’s gem of a city is thriving— and aims to stay that way

02 @NB|AZ What’s happening at National Bank of Arizona

28 Wellness Works

04 AZ WORKS Ready, Set, Succeed

How evolving needs affect the economics of mental health

Foundation empowers underserved entrepreneurs through training

06 FOOD & DRINK Food to Live For Local restaurant stays focused on foods that are healthy for body and soul

08 ARTS & CULTURE Mindful Museum Phoenix organizations join forces to create a healing space for introspection

Perfect for the outdoor adventurer, Sedona offers swaths of rugged landscape to explore and discover.

10 TRAILBLAZERS At One Advocacy group strives for inclusion and equality for Arizonans

12 AZ NONPROFIT A Lasting Impact Community-based nonprofit provides emergency shelter to families in need

32 EXPERIENCE AZ A moment in Goodyear

PUBLISHER National Bank of Arizona EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jenavi Kasper, jenavi.kasper@nbarizona.com PROJECT EDITOR Matthew Pazik, matthew.pazik@nbarizona.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Michelle Jacoby, michelle@pb-jcreative.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nathan Joseph, nathan@responsecreative.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Chris Adams, cwadams@me.com CONTRIBUTORS Aaron Berman, Sally J. Clasen, Julia De Simone, Bruce Farr, Debra Gelbart, Lisa Van Loo, Susie Steckner PHOTOGRAPHER Mark Lipczynski, mark@marklipczynski.com

Elevate AZ magazine may contain trademarks or trade names owned by parties who are not affiliated with National Bank of Arizona, Zions Bancorporation, or its affiliates. Use of such marks does not imply any sponsorship by or affiliation with third parties, and National Bank of Arizona does not claim any ownership of or make representations about products and services offered under or associated with such marks. Articles are offered for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, legal, financial or business advice. Please contact a professional about your specific needs and advice. © 2020 Zions Bancorporation, N.A. All rights reserved.

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NATIONAL BANK OF ARIZONA® 6001 N 24th St Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-235-6000

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ON THE COVER Tucked in the Tucson desert, Canyon Ranch is where healthminded visitors go to heal body, soul and spirit.

Find out how this desert retreat and other Arizona businesses are optimizing health and well-being. Page 16.

Photo courtesy of Canyon Ranch Tucson

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The Gisi family joined NB|AZ associates to celebrate the dedication of Gisi Hall at the bank’s new conference center in February.

Bringing Community Together New conference center honors former NB|AZ CEO

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AMILY AND FRIENDS agree that the late John Gisi’s easy rapport with both the business world and community was in his genes. It was only fitting then that National Bank of Arizona’s new conference center Gisi Hall, located at its Biltmore headquarters in Phoenix, was recently dedicated to the former president, CEO and chairman of the board.

“Developing business relationships and being connected to the community was in John’s DNA,” says Deborah Bateman, NB|AZ’s executive vice president and director of strategic business development. “His vision of the Biltmore Conference Center was as a gathering place to support our community and just one more way we could validate our commitment as a true community partner.”

Mark Young, NB|AZ’s current president and CEO, echoed those sentiments at the dedication ceremony held on February 5. He and fellow bankers described Gisi as a respected leader and role model who genuinely cared about people.

Young stated that the center was originally built to be a community gathering place. “We are continuing to support that vision today, not just for the bank and our associates, but for the community (small businesses and nonprofits) to have a place to hold their events,

meetings and functions, as well,” he said.

The remodel expansion added more conference spaces, including that of the main Gisi Hall. Fully equipped with state-of-the-art visual components to facilitate any type of meeting or event, it is expected to host two to three functions per month.

“As a community bank, we are fortunate to have a place where we can offer nonprofits, at no cost or very minimal cost, a place to hold meetings and fundraisers,” Young said. “For nonprofits that may be interested in utilizing the space, they should reach out to their NB|AZ banker to learn how to reserve space for their next function.”

Gisi, who was originally from North Dakota, passed away in December 2017. A Vietnam War veteran, his distinguished banking career was launched in late 1971 after graduating from college. He served as the president of the Arizona Banker’s Association in 1997, in addition to numerous other positions he held in his lifetime. Gisi was a renowned businessman, avid outdoorsman, golfer and philanthropist.

As stated in his obituary, “At the core, [he was] a people person of great character. John was as comfortable in the boardroom as he was on the golf course or on a hunting trip. He lived every day to the fullest.” Julia De Simone

COMMUNITY

Making a Virtual Difference NATIONAL BANK OF ARIZONA is proud to collaborate with Valley of the Sun United Way to say “Vello” to a new way of reading.

Vello is an innovative online tutoring program introduced by United Way that connects volunteer tutors and students virtually. Through one-on-one tutoring and attention, the platform enables NB|AZ associates to volunteer for a quick half-hour from wherever they have access to a computer with an Internet connection.

“I love working for a company that provides me with an opportunity to volunteer and make a difference in the community,” explains Stephanie Pascoe, NB|AZ communications specialist. “Every one of the students who I read with has improved greatly from where they started at the beginning of the school year. Not only is it easy to volunteer without having to leave my office, but also being a part of helping

kids gain confidence in their reading has made this volunteer experience extremely memorable.”

Research shows that being a strong reader in elementary school puts students on the path to succeed in high school and beyond.

“Reading is arguably the single-biggest indicator of future academic success, and while we knew there was an opportunity to help improve learning outcomes for local students, we had no idea just how quickly we’d see results,” says Vello national director Reid DeSpiegelaere. “Together with United Way collaborators, like NB|AZ, we are empowering young learners and innovating the way corporate professionals volunteer in their

community. Since launching Vello with NB|AZ, we’ve seen tremendous growth in the reading skills of our students and are cultivating a powerful experience for NB|AZ employees.”

Valley of the Sun United Way has rolled out Vello in many classrooms locally. NB|AZ has more than 25 associates currently reading with children in two classrooms.

For more information about the Vello program, visit vello.org.

PEOPLE

NB|AZ Volunteer of the Quarter

Stay Social With NB|AZ Keep up to date with National Bank of Arizona by following us online: FACEBOOK

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instagram.com/nationalbankofarizona LINKEDIN

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twitter.com/nbarizona YOUTUBE

youtube.com/nbazinteractive

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Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

JOIN US in congratulating our final Volunteer of the Quarter for 2019, Arizaith Mora from our Biltmore branch.

Known by her coworkers as Ari, she volunteers weekly with a nonprofit organization called DEFAP, which stands for Drug Elimination Family Awareness Program.

From a young age, Ari was enrolled in the program to take dance lessons. Her mother felt there were many benefits to gain and nothing to lose by learning to dance. Ari said her mother was right.

“Not only did I learn to dance, but I also learned many valuable life lessons. Now as an adult, I want to pass that experience and knowledge on to the next generation of young girls,” she explains. “Last year, when I was thinking about a career change, it was important for me to maintain a work-life balance so I could continue teaching dance. Thankfully, NB|AZ has provided that balance for me and I am able to have both a great career and give back to the community.”

Ari works directly with the DEFAP dance director to understand the needs of the dancers. From working with them to boost their self-esteem to empowering them to try something new, she finds great joy not just teaching on the dance floor, but also helping them develop life skills.

“I know the time I spend the with these ladies is not just about the steps and moves they learn, but also the other intangible skills that will help them have a brighter future,” says Ari.

CONNECT

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OD Harris, founder, Ready Set Go Foundation

“A lot of people have a passion, but no sense of business.”

OD Harris, Founder Ready Set Go Foundation

Ready, Set, Succeed

Foundation empowers underserved entrepreneurs through training

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minorities, 88 percent women, 13 percent veterans, and 10 percent under 18.

Students attend a one-hour course every week for five weeks. Upon completion, there is a graduation celebration, complete with cake cutting and a balloon release. “They have a moment to be proud,” Harris notes. “Some entrepreneurs who are older have never walked across a [graduation] stage before.”

Looking ahead, RSGF is preparing more advanced courses for those ready to take the next step, says advisory board chairwoman Sharise L. Erby-Castle, who became involved with the foundation in late 2014. Already the head of her own successful nonprofit, Phenomenal Woman Empowerment Network, Erby-Castle was also still hanging on to her corporate job.

“But I really felt the tugging to go off on [my] own,” she says. “The foundation just opened my eyes [to the fact] that there were so many other entrepreneurs, and RSGF provided a support system.”

The lessons in the foundation’s coursework aren’t gleaned from books, but rather from Harris’ own experiences. In 2002, he started Wize Tax Service out of his Lansing, Michigan, home after discovering his accountant had neglected tax credits to which he was entitled. Over the next 10 years, he grew the business into 35 locations in seven states before selling it to H&R Block. It was during his accountant days that he got the idea for Ready Set Go; his clients repeatedly asked for other business help.

From the beginning, Wize Tax Service gave to charities wherever it operated. Brought up with six siblings by a manufacturing worker and a housewife who emphasized giving back, Harris remembers collecting perishable goods door-to-door at age 10 using a three-wheel stroller he found in the trash.

Four years later, his father died, suddenly forcing the family to rely on services they had once supported.

This year, Harris hopes to bring this “giving back” philosophy to politics with a run for councilman in Chandler. “My job is to be a great servant,” he says.

“I believe in the morals I stood for then and I believe in them now.” Aaron Berman

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

OSÉ HERNANDEZ HAD done it all, from working in restaurants to cleaning windows, while his wife Mayra Diaz worked in the business sector.

Both dreamed of owning their own business, yet felt “a little lost,” Diaz explains.

Shortly after founding Sunrise Window Washing in 2015, they went to the Scottsdale Public Library in search of books about entrepreneurship. The librarian told them, “As a matter of fact, they’re starting a class upstairs” that same day.

The class, facilitated by the Ready Set Go Foundation (RSGF), was designed to help minorities, women and veterans get their businesses off the ground. After an attorney’s presentation, the first thing the Scottsdale couple did was change Sunrise from a sole proprietorship to an LLC for tax and liability reasons.

“We always wanted to have our own business, we just needed a little more knowledge,” Diaz says.

The couple is just the type of people entrepreneur OD Harris created the foundation for. While there’s no shortage of business-related workshops in the Valley, he contends, most gloss over the basics.

“More people are engaged in what their brand looks like versus what it looks like from an infrastructure perspective,” explains Harris, who founded RSGF in 2014 after leaving the Army, only to find it difficult to readjust to civilian life. Since then, the foundation has grown to include chapters in Tulsa; Columbus, Ohio; Los Angeles and Lansing, Michigan; and has trained more than 2,000 people in marketing, financing and legal matters.

“A lot of people have a passion, but no sense of business,” Harris says. Without an understanding of how capital and other components work, “your business will collapse within one or two years.”

With the support of public and private partners— including Coca-Cola and the Arizona Community Foundation—RSGF has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships. The funds are used to cover such expenses as legal filings and mentorships. Training is free to its students, who are comprised of 75 percent

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T Local restaurant stays focused on foods that are healthy for body and soul

HE FIRST THING you notice about the Giving Tree Café is the deliciously warm and inviting scent that greets you as soon as you walk in the door. The sensory effect isn’t a coincidence, according to owner David Warr, who opened the vegetarian eatery in December 2019 near 7th Street and McDowell Road in Phoenix.

To get a pulse on the industry for his new venture, the veteran restaurateur, who also is the co-founder and former executive chef of ChocolaTree in Sedona, visited several restaurants and realized that most dining establishments don’t leave good first impressions.

“If it doesn’t smell delicious, you should walk out,” says Warr, a Chicago native who owned his first restaurant at age 22. At the Giving Tree Cafe, what you smell the minute you enter the restaurant is exactly what you get: organic,

food to live for

gluten-free vegetarian cuisine and vegan options with beverages, minus all the additives.

A self-admitted hippie, Warr converted the former government building to emit a feel-good, simple vibe, with exposed white ductwork, live plants hanging from macrame holders, and Himalayan lamps in a space that seats 75 with an outdoor patio. The humble, but warm ambience is grounded by a communal table situated in the middle of the dining space next to the open kitchen, an intentional design that proves Warr has nothing to hide.

“Food transparency is so important. We’re proud of what we do and believe our guests are worth it, too,” he says. “We go the extra mile. Our food preparation methods are done right in front of you.”

Warr, who is also the head chef, sources ingredients mostly from Arizona, California

“To me, sustainability is an important issue for our businesses, our relationships and our restaurants. I’m being the change I want to see.”

David Warr, Owner, Giving Tree Café

healthy. Neither are soy nuggets deep fried in canola oil.”

He’s also committed to a greater good: protecting the planet so that future generations can benefit from the impact of our food choices.

“To me, sustainability is an important issue for our businesses, our relationships and our restaurants.

I’m being the change I want to see,” says Warr.

And diners are embracing his approach to eating foods that are healthy for their bodies and the environment. In less than two months in business, the Giving Tree Café has earned high ratings on Yelp. Warr, who wasn’t entirely convinced the urban market would get his concept, couldn’t be more delighted with the community’s reception.

“Some of my favorite reviews are from meat eaters,” he says. “I wanted to do something like this for years. People in Phoenix are truly friendly and I’m having a blast.” Sally J. Clasen

David Warr, owner, Giving Tree Café

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

and Mexico to create his plant-based menu that features all-day breakfast, appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches and entrees.

The “food to live for” includes items such as jalapeño poppers made with cashew cream cheese, pumpkin seed crumble and Rawnch dressing. The Buddha Bowl, a guest favorite, is tossed with roasted maple acorn squash, turmeric cauliflower, shishito peppers, Brussels sprouts, Bangkok sauce, and choice of wild rice or quinoa.

According to Warr, desserts—which include antioxidant-rich, raw chocolate selections and lime cream pie—are some of the healthiest items on the menu. The restaurant also serves fresh, cold-pressed juices crafted onsite with an industrial pressing machine, as well as specialty coffees and conscious cocktails that include alcohol, beer and wine.

The Giving Tree Café’s lineup is something Warr has been serving his family for years, taking classic recipes and putting a vegetarian spin on them— and now vegan, too, using only coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and natural, whole ingredients to make diverse, nutrient-dense and flavorful food.

As someone who has studied cooking and nutrition for years, Warr understands how food combinations affect the body. “The body digests food in different ways. With our menu, you won’t feel heavy, lethargic or experience a food coma after eating various things,” he says. “The foods all work well together.

It’s some of the healthiest food you’ll find in America. It will leave you invigorated and enlivened.”

Although Warr has been a strict vegetarian for decades, he’s not that interested in convincing others to follow his eating habits. Rather, he’s more concerned about raising the culinary bar and providing high-quality food that aligns with human well-being.

“I’m a vegetarian, but it’s not my focus. I want to serve the most radiantly healthy food I possibly can.

By definition it’s not going to be healthy if it’s processed. It’s more important to be healthy than vegetarian,” he says.

“What makes the Giving Tree Café different is that we are truly healthy.

It’s possible to have a vegan meal with Doritos and a diet soda, but it’s not

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mindful museum Phoenix organizations join forces to create a healing space for introspection

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RT MUSEUMS TEND TO BE reflective places. But every week at the Phoenix Art Museum, there’s an extra air of introspection. For the last four years, individuals have gathered, rain or shine, to participate in free, halfhour mindfulness classes on behalf of a collaboration between Hospice of the Valley and the museum.

Gillian Hamilton, M.D., Ph.D., administrative medical director of Hospice of the Valley, first developed a mindfulness program to help the agency’s staff and caregivers navigate the stresses of caring for the dying.

“I was sitting with nurses and social workers, and realized they were taking their work home at night and couldn’t sleep. So, I went to a retreat about mindfulness and thought, ‘This is awesome.’ I recruited some colleagues and we became certified so we could help our staff deal with death and dying every day, be able to do that with equanimity and not leave, burn out,” explains Hamilton. “But mostly to be able to be present with others’ pain, but not take it on.”

Eventually, the class evolved into a public format where the community was invited to join mindfulness sessions at

the Phoenix Art Museum after Hamilton read about a similar program at the Los Angeles Art Museum.

Mindfulness is being in the present moment, says Hamilton, who facilitates the weekly museum sessions. It’s proven to relieve anxiety, depression, pain and stress, and actually change the way you feel, think, work and play by opening new pathways in the brain. “Mindfulness also is known to lower blood pressure, improve breathing and the immune system, and reduces chronic pain by one-third with long-term use,” she says.

Typically, about 25 people from all walks of life gather each week for the mindfulness class, sitting quietly in a circle as Hamilton reminds them to breath and stay in the moment, regardless of outside distractions such as museum goers passing by or birds chirping.

The goal of mindfulness, she says, is not to block out what’s happening around you, but instead be in tune with your breath, body, thoughts, feelings and emotions, whether positive or negative.

“A lot of systems teach you to distract, avoid and try not go there, or to analyze. Mindfulness accepts whatever is present, when you fully accept an area of distress or pain, it transforms with time. So, accepting, accepting, accepting, not pushing away. It doesn’t make sense at first, but it works. It’s about being aware of the tiny, slippery spot of now,” she says.

“Any time you stop the endless runway we’re on, even for an instant, it makes a difference.”

Gillian Hamilton, M.D., Ph.D. Administrative Medical Director, Hospice of the Valley The weekly, half-hour sessions also have inspired the Slow Art and Mindfulness class, which blends guided mindfulness practice with a deeper reflection of an individual artwork once a month at the museum.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with Hospice of the Valley, which has made it possible for us to host more than 150 sessions of mindfulness for our community over the past four years,” says Kaela Sáenz Oriti, the Gerry Grout Education Director.

“Our mindfulness sessions provide an often-welcomed escape from the hustle and bustle of every day, giving participants the chance to slow down and heighten their awareness in an inspiring and creative environment. We remain committed to offering programs like mindfulness that encourage our community to interact with the museum in a way that’s meaningful to them.” Sally J. Clasen

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

The classes, which have attracted 3,500 visitors since they began, are held in the Dorrance Sculpture Garden unless there is inclement weather, when they are moved inside.

Skeptics might wonder how a half-hour of mindfulness can change anything, but according to Hamilton, it has benefits, even if you practice it momentarily.

“The class encourages people to do it in between, but you take what you can get. Any time you stop the endless runway we’re on, even for an instant, it makes a difference. If you could do it once a day, for one minute, great. You don’t have to sit. You could just walk to your car and be aware of your emotions, that will change things,” she says.

Sally Mulready of Phoenix, a retired marriage and family therapist, attends classes regularly with her partner and feels the experience has heightened her life in many ways.

“I’m attracted to it because I love the practice of mindfulness, but also it brings me to the museum, because when I retired, I wanted to be more involved in the art world. The marriage of having mindfulness here is perfect for me. It grounds me to the practice, to the museum, the garden and community of people. It feels like home,” she says. “Plus, the weekly routine of mindfulness reminds me to use the technique during the week.”

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at one Advocacy group strives for inclusion and equality for Arizonans

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NGELA HUGHEY is on a mission to better Arizona for all, one cup of coffee at a time.

It may sound like a lot of joe to brew, but Hughey knows firsthand the power of dialogue in a comfortable setting. After multiple life experiences, Hughey and her wife Sheri Owens co-founded ONE Community, a for-profit coalition of socially responsible businesses supporting diversity, inclusion and equality for all Arizonans. Shortly following its inception, the nonprofit ONE Community Foundation was established, reshaping Arizona’s image through education, empowerment and connection with its diverse LGBTQ individuals and their allies.

“We wanted to make sure we’re doing business with organizations that treated us with respect,” says Hughey, also ONE Community president. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Independent or your religious beliefs. Our shared value is all Arizona. We really want to meet people where they are and have thoughtful conversation.

If we have to do it one cup of coffee at a time, we will do it.”

And with that came another chapter. In 2013, the organization launched UNITY Pledge, a concerted effort by Arizona businesses, organizations, faith leaders and individuals to advance workplace equality and equal treatment in housing and public accommodations for LGBTQ individuals and their allies. To date, more than 3,200 businesses and more than 20,000 Arizonans have taken the UNITY Pledge, which is the largest equality pledge in the nation.

“The business community and like-minded individuals understand that if we want to compete for top talent, we must have diverse and inclusive workplaces,” Hughey says.

In February 2014, the ONE Community continued the dialogue by speaking against the controversial Senate Bill 1062, which allows businesses the right to deny service to gay and lesbian customers if those customers somehow offended the proprietors’ religious beliefs, according to NPR. The group also reached out to pledge signers and encouraged its ongoing mantra “that discrimination is bad for business and bad for Arizona.”

They also partnered with ONE Community business member FASTSIGNS on Central Avenue in Phoenix to create the “OPEN for Business to Everyone” signs. More than 3,500 signs were distributed in less than 72 hours.

“This campaign, along with the efforts of our partners, was integral in encouraging our governor to veto the bill, and a movement was born,” according to the ONE Community website.

As of press time, The Washington Post reported that a bipartisan group of Arizona lawmakers again pushed a proposal to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity despite repeated failures to obtain a hearing due to opposition from social conservatives in the legislature. The most recent Municipal Equality Index lists Phoenix, Tempe and Tucson among the top three in LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law and policy.

“Currently in Arizona, we only have six municipalities that have LGBTQ inclusive ordinances in place. So that means in every 60 percent of our state, it is not unlawful to deny service to discriminate in employment or in housing based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. We just want to make sure that we’re a state that treats all people fairly.

And if you’re LGBTQ, your rights shouldn’t depend on the ZIP code that you happen to be in,” Hughey stated in an interview on KJZZ last year.

Another way ONE Community is trying to open better dialogue is through the Institute Certification Program, a comprehensive training tool that guides corporate leaders toward building an LGBTQ-inclusive workplace. The training modules are designed so that employees at every level of leadership can learn how their unique influence and responsibilities can lift up the company. Training and modules are available for executives, leaders and employees.

Hughey says the “UNITY institute is so incredibly important” in helping Arizona businesses continue being competitive, recruiting and retaining top talent.

Shelia Kloefkorn, founder, CEO and president of KEO Marketing Inc. in Phoenix and Tempe, echoes Hughey’s sentiments. A tireless advocate for equality with Hughey, she was named ONE Community’s 2019 Spotlight on Success Local Hero.

“Never believe one person cannot make a change. I remember my mom saying she was, ‘writing to her legislature because she cared deeply about an issue and if I don’t write, they won’t know I care,’” Kloefkorn says.

Although both Hughey and Kloefkorn agree that substantial strides have occurred, there’s more work to be done. “It’s important for young people to know what it took to get us here,” Kloefkorn says. “We all stand on the shoulders of people who have come before us.”

Hughey agrees, always willing to meet anyone over a cup of coffee. “I would like to see a future that celebrates and protects all of Arizona,” she says, “to garner more support and educate Arizona to value everyone in Arizona that lives in this great state, especially the LGBTQ community.” Julia De Simone

Angela Hughey, co-founder and president, ONE Community

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

“I would like to see a future that celebrates and protects all of Arizona.�

Angela Hughey, Co-founder and President, ONE Community

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N JANUARY 2019, Keasha—mom to a teenage son, pet parent to a 9-year-old Labrador/border collie mix, and a math teacher with a master’s degree—needed to quickly leave an emotionally abusive domestic situation in Georgia to protect her son’s—and her own—well-being. She wanted to move as far away from Georgia as she could, so she chose Arizona.

In her haste to flee, she wasn’t able to arrange housing before she left and, instead, decided to research social service organizations that might be able to help. She learned about Family Promise, a housing safety-net agency with a unique network of volunteers that helps those searching for emergency shelter.

“It was really a blessing to have a place to go to that would even allow my pet to be there,” says Keasha, who has been living in her own apartment since last March.

with finding job opportunities. On average, he says, the adult is employed within 28 days of arriving at Family Promise.

“We also start working with our nonprofit partners to find the family sustainable housing.”

At 5 p.m., each family is transported by van to one of 54 participating churches or synagogues, where they will be fed dinner and provided with a private space for all members of the family to sleep overnight. The congregations often create the spaces for up to four families at a time from unused classrooms or a fellowship hall. The 54 congregations operate on a rotating basis, so each church or synagogue assumes the responsibility for dinner and lodging for an average of 12 to 15 people every night for seven nights in a row, and then another congregation performs those functions for the next seven days, and so on.

A Lasting Impact Community-based nonprofit provides emergency shelter to families in need

Family Promise – Greater Phoenix, part of a national organization, began its nonprofit mission of providing emergency shelter locally in January 2000. To date, the organization has helped more than 1,200 families in the Phoenix area, says Ted Taylor, executive director of the organization, adding that 84 percent of families in America that become homeless are headed by single mothers with an average of three children age 9 and younger.

“Our typical guest is a single mom who has been staying with her children in the homes of friends or relatives,” he says.

“Then, the adult runs out of options. The day they call us is the day they’re told they can’t stay there anymore.” (Taylor notes that there are also many single dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other heads of household with legal custody of children the organization helps.)

Here’s how Family Promise works: An adult with custody of children in need of emergency housing contacts the organization directly or is referred to them through a social service agency, school or hospital. All family members must be drug- and alcohol-free, not be in an active domestic violence situation, or have violent felonies in their past. The family is brought together to one of three “day centers” operated by Family Promise in either Glendale or south Scottsdale. A fourth center is opening soon in Mesa.

The family, along with up to three other families at the same location at one time, is welcomed into a living room setting, where they stay until 5 p.m. Right away, after they’ve settled in, “we start educating them about how to manage cash flow,” Taylor says. If they need it, the adult is assisted

Usually, Taylor says, three congregations at a time are extending their hospitality, one for each of the day centers.

Soon, when the fourth day center opens, four congregations at a time will welcome families for seven nights in a row.

Every morning, at 5:30, the families are brought back to the day center from the participating congregation to get ready for their day at work or at school. The hosting congregation will have provided breakfast and lunch supplies for each family.

Each family member spends the day at work, at school or looking for work (babies and toddlers are in day care arranged by the parent or guardian). School-age kids are transported, if necessary, to and from school. Then, at 5 p.m., from the day center, they get back on the van and are transported once again to the congregation for dinner and an overnight stay.

The typical family “graduates” from the program in 43 days with a job and an apartment they can afford, Taylor says.

The families say good-bye to each congregation on Sunday mornings; they will be welcomed by another congregation that Sunday night.

“This is where the miracle happens,” Taylor says. “In those seven nights, relationships have been built. And it’s amazing

to watch the emotion and the tears between the families and volunteers as they’re departing. This is the power of love and healing in action. We like to think of it as a ‘love immersion’ program.”

Pastor Kimber Govett of Sunrise United Methodist Church in Phoenix says they are so happy to partner with Family Promise.

“When we host families at our church, it is a transforming experience, not only for the families who receive love and care from us, but also for the members of our church who receive the same in return.” Sunrise Methodist has been a participating congregation since 2018.

Keasha, who is now working as a math teacher at a Valley charter school, says she’s grateful to Family Promise for the help she received for two months in early 2019.

“This is an organization of people that really cares about families,” she says. “The volunteers at the congregations help families, too, not only by providing meals and shelter, but by networking and helping the moms and dads connect with people who know about job opportunities. It’s a whole community that cares about helping families in their time of need.” Debra Gelbart

Ted Taylor, executive director, Family Promise – Greater Phoenix

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

13

The Attorney & Firm Services of NB|AZ provides vital services to legal professionals

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balancing the scales “I’m available to guide a law firm through the trust account process efficiently and in compliance with the IOLTA rules,” she says. The interest earned on the funds deposited by attorneys allows the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education to use those funds to increase access to justice for individuals and families living in poverty, and to improve the justice system.

NB|AZ IOLTA accounts include unlimited transactions, no monthly service charge, and digital images of checks. Additionally, the bank does not retain any portion of the interest generated as a fee. The agreement between the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education and financial institutions allows financial Tracy Ward, business institutions to keep 10 percent of the development officer, interest earned as a fee, but NB|AZ Attorney & Firm has made the decision to contribute Services Department not 90 percent, but 100 percent of the interest earned back to the foundation.

“I can answer specific questions that attorneys frequently have regarding the opening, use and closing F YOU’RE AN ATTORNEY, you may be as concerned about issues of an IOLTA,” Ward says. “This is a valuable resource for our clients related to your practice as you are about matters of law. But you and sets us apart from other financial institutions.” may not know that National Bank of Arizona has a department A native of Arizona and a graduate of Arizona State University, dedicated to the needs and interests of attorneys. You also may not Ward often connects attorneys with bankers at NB|AZ. “Whenever know the bank has a dedicated associate/business development possible, I match the law firm or attorney with the banker who is officer, who can guide and assist attorneys with questions about best for their needs,” she explains. I communicate with the banker financial aspects of their practice or who need resources to help and client to ensure the client’s satisfaction.” run their practices efficiently.

The bank provides a full suite of services in the business, “NB|AZ is on the leading edge of full-service banking for legal consumer, treasury and wealth sectors. NB|AZ’s Student Debt professionals,” says Tracy Ward, business development officer of Refinancing Program is focused on attorneys, medical doctors, the bank’s Attorney & Firm Services department, which she created dentists and orthodontists. “We specialize in the needs of these in 2014 when she started working for the bank after spending 12 professionals,” Ward says. years at the State Bar of Arizona as a practice management adviser.

If you’re not an attorney, but you’d like to be connected to a Ward offers continuing legal education seminars at least once banker at NB|AZ who specializes in your industry, you can still a month on a variety of relevant topics, including succession contact Ward. planning for attorneys and law firms, how to avoid Interest on “I will help anyone who has questions or banking needs. If Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) trouble, and cyber security for it’s not me, I will find the right NB|AZ partner to get that client law firms. Because management of attorneys’ trust accounts is a what they need. I’m happy to take those calls when the caller says, critical function of a law firm, she has become a specialist on the ‘Tracy, I know this isn’t your area, but I know you can help me.” rules that govern the use of IOLTA, a method of funding legal Debra Gelbart services for indigent individuals.

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Good Health, Good Business it’s hard enough to slow down for the common cold much less make time for wellness. But actively pursuing physical, mental and social well-being is the elixir that can keep you going.

IN YOUR NON-STOP WORLD,

That might mean a night of restorative sleep to face the day ahead. Or resetting your body in the middle of the day to work out back pain or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Or a weekend trip for an extended focus on your mental and physical state.

Need help getting started down this road? Here’s how three local businesses can optimize your well-being.

STORY SUSIE STECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY MARK LIPCZYNSKI

Photo courtesy of Canyon Ranch Tucson

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

17

Photos courtesy of Canyon Ranch Tucson

Canyon Ranch Tucson is focused on working with guests on creating a healthy living plan.

Canyon Ranch Tucson

C

A N YO N R A N C H O P E N E D in Tucson in 1979 with a bold mission to unify mind, body and spirit. It was a hard-won realization that came to founder Mel Zuckerman at a California “fat farm” where he was resolving to change his health and life for good.

Four decades later, the pioneering resort remains true to that vision by serving guests at the desert hideaway in Arizona and locations across the country and even at sea.

“How we feel in our bodies, and how we care for ourselves, on every level, determines our degree of satisfaction, contentment and happiness with our lives,” says Amy Hawthorne, Life Management Director-Health and Healing at the Tucson location.

Canyon Ranch focuses on five pillars: fitness and movement, food and nutrition, health and healing, mind

and spirit, and spa and beauty. Guests in Tucson have their pick of offerings, but current favorites include: • Rejuvenating waters, a combination of steam, water and bodywork. Guests start the experience in a hydrotherapy tub, where they are massaged in warm water from head to toe and then move to a steam-filled room for additional massage.

• Healthy lifestyle consultation to examine a wide range of issues, such as communication, feeling stuck, grief and loss, interpersonal relationships, meditation for change, sexuality and intimacy, transitions and work-life balance.

• Dexa body composition to assess body composition and maximize plans to reach and maintain a healthy body weight. The assessment measures not only total body fat, but lean tissue and visceral fat. Guests learn how to reduce their risk for disease and set realistic goals for muscle mass and body fat levels.

Hawthorne says the resort continues to draw a diverse, multigenerational audience thanks to the resort’s expertise across multiple disciplines, variety of services in the wellness space and tailored experiences.

“The programming team continues to evolve offerings to ensure new and repeat guests learn and grow while they’re in Tucson,” she says.

Guests can expect even more at Canyon Ranch Tucson as it undergoes an extensive renovation of rooms and suites as well as other enhancements at the property.

Founder Mel Zuckerman once wrote that he and his wife Enid built Canyon Ranch “to be the perfect place to put things in perspective, reset priorities and contemplate new opportunities.”

The founders have retired but those words still ring true in Tucson.

“If we don’t make wellness a priority by default, we choose to live life under its full potential,” Hawthorne says.

Brooklyn Bedding

J

John Merwin, CEO, Brooklyn Bedding

the business, Brooklyn Bedding, would go on to become one of the big names in the online mattress industry.

Today, customers find Brooklyn Bedding both online and at multiple retail locations. Regardless of their shopping habits, customers often share a similar story of aching backs or poor sleep.

“No one ever really thinks it’s the mattress,” Merwin says. “They think, ‘I’m getting old or I’ve gained weight.’ And they just put up with it.”

But the right mattress leads to everything from sound sleep to reducing stress and improving your mood, to strengthening immunity, he says. Combined with the right bedding, which the company also sells, customers can create an entirely new sleep experience.

“I’m a huge, huge believer in the whole package,” he says. “You have to pair the mattress with the right pillow and then you have to pair it with the right sheets. We are working to educate people that the whole package will make a difference.”

Brooklyn Bedding is one of a few national companies that manufactures its own mattresses.

It’s also a company inspired to meet the needs of our healthcare community in light of COVID-19 pandemic.

Brooklyn Bedding is now repurposing its proprietary technology to produce beds for hospitals and government agencies that need them the most. Inspired by their work with the trucking industry in using mattresses to soak up diesel fuel spills in crisis situations, the hospital mattresses are made with vinyl construction and materials, and provide extreme waterproofing features.

Health and government officials can procure mattresses and get more information by visiting the Brooklyn Bedding website.

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

Photos courtesy of Brooklyn Bedding

O H N M E R W I N ’ S “A-H A” moment came in a box.

Ordered online. Sight unseen. It was a mattress, tightly rolled up and conveniently delivered to his home.

At the time, Merwin and his brother Rob were veterans in the mattress business, manufacturing their own mattresses and selling “scratch and dents” under the name R & S Liquidators, with traditional brick and mortar stores. But when Merwin’s wife, an early adopter of online shopping, noticed a mattress for sale online, they were intrigued.

“I opened that mattress up and knew that was something we could do in our factory,” Merwin says. “We saw the future of the industry.”

After a few tough years trying to make of a go of selling online, the brothers found success. The next iteration of

19

20

The Joint

I

F YO U T H I N K an aching back is the only reason people are seeking out chiropractic care, think again.

More and more people are turning to chiropractors to treat a range of injuries and conditions brought on by everything from sports injuries to poor posture. They’re also looking for non-invasive, drugless therapies, and are focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle by making visits to the chiropractor more the rule than the exception.

For many, The Joint Corp., a network of chiropractic clinics well known for retail locations and walk-in appointments, is the answer.

The company got its start in Tucson in 1999 and was guided by a vision to make chiropractic care more convenient and affordable. The company was re-founded in 2010 with the acquisition of the original eight franchised clinics, and today is the nation’s largest network of non-insurance, private-pay chiropractic health care clinics in the country.

The Joint is seeing a steady growth in new patients, according to the company’s annual survey. In 2018, the survey showed that 26 percent of patients were new to chiropractic

care, up from 16 percent in 2013, says Peter D. Holt, president and CEO of The Joint Corp. He attributes that growth to an increasing desire for drug-free solutions to the opioid, obesity and pain epidemics.

“Not surprising, millennials are our largest constituency, comprising 39 percent of our patient base, as they are more likely to be open to natural, holistic and wellness healthcare,” Holt says, adding that people are largely familiar with chiropractic care to help recover “ This is a proactive from injuries or approach to health symptoms like low back pain, neck pain, that seeks to prevent headaches or other injury from occurring issues triggered by in the first place.” wear and tear to PETER D. HOLT, PRESIDENT muscles, nerve or AND CEO, THE JOINT CORP. joint movement.

These issues are most frequently caused by sports injuries, workplace injuries, auto accidents, poor posture over time or other incidents.

But patients also turn to The Joint for another, less understood benefit of chiropractic care: regular treatments designed to maintain health. When care is part of a routine, the body can better respond to all the stresses it experiences throughout the day, says Holt.

In fact, a new brand campaign launched last year, called “You’re Back, Baby,” is designed to tell real patient stories focused on not only everyday pain relief, but also the benefits of incorporating regular treatments into everyday life.

“Much like brushing one’s teeth or working out, this is a proactive approach to health that seeks to prevent injury from occurring in the first place,” Holt says. “These benefits of chiropractic care are less understood but make sense when one considers all the other self-care routines that lead to improved quality of life.”

Peter D. Holt, president and CEO, The Joint Corp.

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22

Sustainable Sustainable

Sedona Sedona

Arizona’s gem of a city is thriving—and aims to stay that way STORY BRUCE FARR PHOTOGRAPHY MARK LIPCZYNSKI

to say in a magazine article, there simply are no words to describe a visitor’s initial approach into Sedona. “Breathtaking” comes as close as possible to capturing the heady experience that millions of awestruck motorists experience as they slowly wend their way into the small city, through some of nature’s most finely wrought geologic handiwork. Amid such eyepopping natural splendor, it’s not difficult to understand how, over the decades, Sedona has become a magnet for nature lovers IRONIC AS IT MIGHT BE

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

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and health enthusiasts, spiritualists and seers, and, in nearly incalculable numbers, the quintessential American tourist.

Sedona’s easy access is key to its huge popularity. The short two-hour drive from Phoenix to Sedona is a cinch.

Interstate 17 rises pleasantly northward, traversing at least three distinct ecosystems as it ascends the roughly 3,000 feet into the Verde Valley’s moderately temperate terrain.

Gradually moving toward higher elevations—from desert to high plains, and then into mountainous climes—the temperatures dip appreciably and the local vegetation changes, announcing each new environment with a bright, botanical flourish.

Amid all its many charms, what starkly characterizes Sedona as one of the world’s most desirable destinations is its magnificent outcroppings of multi-hued sandstone.

These fabulous natural formations dot the region in every direction, jutting upward from the high desert floor, mesmerizing visitors.

Add to that the the fact that Sedona is surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest, chock-full of hiking and biking trails, bouncy jeep tracks and crystal-clear streams, and the city’s enduring appeal makes perfect sense.

site of small ranching and farming settlements.

One of the first permanent Caucasian settlers was John James Thompson, who, in 1876, built a small cabin in nearby Oak Creek Canyon. By the early 1900s, just two dozen families lived in what’s now the Sedona area. One settler, Theodore Schnebly, filed with the federal government to inaugurate a new post office. When it got approved, he named it Sedona, after his wife. Thus, the town was born.

‘SUSTAINABLE’ SEDONA

Now a thriving community of 10,000 full-time residents, Sedona—with all its natural beauty and tranquility—is busy implementing a wholesale plan to help accommodate its local citizens as well as to better address its main source of revenue: the many thousands of tourists who visit the city annually.

It’s precisely because Sedona is a city that discourages major industrial development and the all-too-commonplace “big-box-store” mentality, that its managers have to seek out and nurture other means of revenue.

NATIVE AMERICAN ROOTS

Sedona’s history is as fascinating as its topography. Geologists and archaeologists date the region’s first settlement to roughly 10,000 years ago, when Native American tribes found shelter in the soft sandstone caves and hollows in and around the area. And, despite the region’s low annual rainfall, Hopi tribespeople found a way to grow corn, beans and squash to feed their families, thus becoming the region’s first farming homesteaders.

The territory was discovered by Europeans in the 16th century, when Spanish explorers arrived searching for gold and silver. Much later, in the 19th century, Sedona was the

Molly Spangler, economic development director, City of Sedona

As one frequent traveler to the region remarked, “Sedona is a unique blend of spiritualism, ancient peoples, nature and man.”

Don Fries and Bev Bow, owners, Healthy World Sedona

CONNECTED COMMUNITY

Importantly, Spangler points out that the movement isn’t merely about Sedona’s ecological health. It’s also about the sustainability among the people in the community, in their connections to one another.

“We’re promoting more patience and kindness, for

example, in our day-to-day dealings with one another,” she says. That’s an aspect of sustainability that you don’t hear about as often.”

From a city management standpoint, Sedona has been wise to exploit its profound natural beauty to its advantage in every possible aspect. As an example, the Parks & Recreation masterplan focuses on harnessing the natural openness of the sprawling Coconino National Forest that surrounds Sedona, using it as naturally as possible to enable and preserve the town’s “brand” and rich legacy.

In that sense, the city managers aren’t trying to create more structured parks and open spaces to satisfy public demand for recreational areas. Rather, they’re focused on establishing a balance of open space management with more structured physical development that takes place in the downtown.

EDIBLE ENLIGHTENMENT

Sedona advertises itself as “a great place to grow or start a business” and according to Lorena Schmidt, branch manager at Sedona’s National Bank of Arizona, it’s hardly an empty promise.

“Sedona happens to be a market where a lot of people come and put their vision together—a place where they tend to feel they can do what they’ve always wanted to do—even retirees. It might be a winery or even a gem store, but the spirt of this city lends itself to helping inspire them.”

Local residents Don Fries and Bev Bow are a case in point. Typical of many Sedona transplants who move to the city and soon catch its infectious spirit of healthy entrepreneurship, they decided to open their not-for-profit business Healthy World Sedona five years ago. Their business’s mission is geared toward promoting the benefits of plant-based nutrition for human, environmental and

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

“Tourism is our big economic engine,” says Molly Spangler, Sedona’s economic development director. “It’s the majority of our local economy and it’s how we fund a big portion of our government. With that funding, we’re able to invest in our city infrastructure, police force and our chamber of commerce, which is the main tourism and visitor’s bureau, effectively.”

Spangler describes how a major thrust of the city’s masterplan focuses on a concerted effort at promoting and maintaining Sedona’s branded reputation for naturalness, spiritualism and good health.

“One of the things that I’m really proud of is that our chamber of commerce and the city as a whole have taken up the cause of sustainability here in Sedona,” she explains.

“As a result, we’re implementing a sustainable tourism plan, trying to educate local people and visitors to be mindful of our sustainability focus. And when it comes to visitors, we want to educate them as much as possible on how important it is that they take care of the city as if it were their own.”

That sustainability takes many forms, Spangler says. “It can be something as small and simple as our restaurants going essentially ‘plastic straw-free.’ And more actively, we have a lot of businesses becoming more sustainable in their wastewater mitigation practices, people and businesses doing more composting, and then all the efforts to bring about better hiking trail management.”

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Lorena Schmidt, branch manager, National Bank of Arizona

animal health and welfare. The couple feels that the nature of their organization perfectly dovetails with the city’s increasingly healthy, sustainable zeitgeist.

“When we moved here, we weren’t planning to start a business; we were just going to live here,” Bow explains. “But as we became involved in the community and saw what it has to offer, we wanted to help make a difference and ‘give back’ in some way, so this is what we decided to do.”

Healthy World Sedona focuses on hosting “health fests” in and around the area, and since they opened their doors, the events have grown considerably, attracting attendees from around the globe to gather and learn about living more thoughtfully and compassionately, via a whole food, plant-based lifestyle. Recent events at L’Auberge de Sedona have been packed “wall-to-wall,” the couple say.

Fries admits that moving to Sedona was enlightening.

“There’s a lot of things about the lifestyle here that contribute to health and spiritual wellbeing, and our idea of having really healthy choices for food and diet—along with good information about what that means—we felt was a contribution we could make. Sedona wants to be a place that people can come for health and relaxation, and overall mind-body-spirit well-being.”

Health and spirituality aside, the business end of operating an organization in Sedona is “progressive,” Fries says. “There’s an extremely supportive and professional chamber of commerce here, and that makes a big difference.

Jennifer Wesselhoff, the CEO of the chamber, is wonderful to work with.”

The chamber and the city have been absolutely supportive since we first opened,” Bow adds. “The mayor shows up at events of ours every year and greets people, which is something she really wouldn’t have to do. It says a lot about the level of support Sedona offers its businesses.”

MILLENNIAL INFLUX

The couple say that, from a growth standpoint, they’re bullish on the future of Sedona. “There are more and more millennial-age people that seem to be making a decision to live here exclusively,” Bow points out. “In fact, we’re seeing more young people moving to this area who want to invest in this community. To a fairly great degree, historically, Sedona’s been a retirement and tourist community, but we’re seeing an increasing number of younger people who really identify with the lifestyle here, and are saying, ‘This is my town and I want to do whatever I can to make it a great place.’ ” Schmidt agrees with them on Sedona’s future. “The sustainability aspect of our city is also geared to attracting new residents, many of them younger people who recognize the value of living and working in a community that puts a sustainable lifestyle on such a high pedestal.”

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28 S T O R Y B R U C E FA R R PHOTOGRAPHY MARK LIPCZYNSKI

wellness works

Evolving needs and treatments are altering the economics of mental health

T

H E T R E AT M E N T O F

mental illness in

the United States has, out of necessity, changed dramatically over the past few

decades. An alarming, latter-day surge of such conditions as depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress have taxed an already overworked system.

The numbers are sobering: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in five adults in the U.S. will suffer a diagnosable mental illness in their lifetime and, of that number, more than half will go untreated. The fact is there simply aren’t enough health practitioners to treat the escalating need.

With these significant challenges to treatment and care, we’re in the midst of what most experts describe as a full-blown health crisis in America.

The cost of our deteriorating mental health and

30

substance abuse issues is staggering. The WHO whom suffer from PTSD and other related illnesses. So the tells us that the impact of mental health disorders major challenge is making sure we have enough resources to on businesses is in the range of $80 billion to provide our community and treat these individuals suffering $100 billion each year. (Depression and anxiety from these spiraling conditions. The sad thing is that in alone cost the global economy an estimated Arizona, there simply aren’t enough providers to handle the $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.) increasing need for care.”

The good news is that in many states (Arizona Trinh says it’s one of the reasons his clinic has decided to among them) treatments—and the philosophy change its paradigm of treatment and focus more on a team surrounding the nature of those treatments—are approach to helping mental illness sufferers. evolving. In Arizona, mental health professionals “I think the most important aspect of mental health and politicians alike are busy care, from the standpoint of treatment, addressing the situation by is partnership,” he notes. “It’s been one of developing and implementing the most exciting developments in recent discrete, independent means years in the Arizona mental health market. of coping with mental illness And that’s because care providers have ADULTS IN THE and its costs. Those means are come to the realization that the best way U.S. WILL SUFFER emanating both from a state to help their patients is through a customA DIAGNOSABLE policy perspective, as well as tailored plan that’s based in partnering.

MENTAL ILLNESS from advances in new modes With a greater need in mind, our strategy IN THEIR LIFETIME and methods of treatment. of treatment has really pivoted to be much WORLD HEALTH more community-focused.”

ORGANIZATION TEAMING UP Trinh says one of the big challenges Chung Trinh—founder and in the past was a disconnect among the CEO of Lighthouse Psychiatry, a Gilbert-based various treatment resources, and that allowed a lot of mental mental health and counseling clinic—says the health patients to fall through the cracks. increase in mental health issues in Arizona “I think there’s been a lot of individuals who’ve embraced follows the same trend in the U.S. as a whole. the need to create relationships to create a robust network “In addition to anxiety and depression— that’s designed to ensure that those who need treatment can with depression being No. 1 in terms of its be identified and helped much earlier in the cycle,” he says. prevalence—postpartum depression, OCD and One example he cites is how schools and hospitals addiction are the key challenges facing mental are adopting educational programs that focus on raising health treatment in Arizona,” he says. “First of mental health awareness and helping to reduce the stigma all, Arizona is home to a lot of veterans, many of of mental illness that’s been prevalent for so long. Another development to help create more effective treatment is to provide what Trinh calls “wraparound” services that include multiple treatment modalities.

“We’re aiming to create a far more integrated approach to care. So some of the modalities we’re implementing might include an M.D. who prescribes appropriate medications and works hand-in-hand with a therapist focused on identifying and applying coping skills and mechanisms for sufferers.

Add to that a focus on family dynamics and blending them with cutting-edge technologies like TMS [transcranial magnetic stimulation], and that really raises the bar on the comprehensive nature of treatment currently available to mental health patients.”

Trinh adds that we can’t overlook facilities or professionals that offer more holistic approaches to treatment, such as acupuncture or naturopathy, massage therapy or life coaching, and include nutritionists and dieticians.

“Regardless of the range that these cover, it’s all about finding resource alignment that leads to coordinated care.

1 in 5

Chung Trinh, founder and CEO, Lighthouse Psychiatry

“ Arizona has made mental health awareness and treatment a major priority.

From both an emerging treatment and a government perspective, we actually do better with mental health than a lot of other states in the country.”

DR. D ON FOW L S, PR E SI DE N T

AR IZ ONA PS YCH I AT R IC S O C I E T Y

That’s the way you’re going to make a difference in these people’s lives,” he says.

VIRTUAL HELP Another important factor in Arizona’s increasing focus on mental health is the notable surge in technological capabilities that are aiding in treatment. Telepsychiatry—whereby psychiatric sessions and other treatment can be rendered remotely—is just one example of how psychiatric treatment is reaching significantly more mental health patients in Arizona and throughout the United States, Fowls says.

“There’s been a huge problem—a bottleneck— regarding access to services, and telepsychiatry really cuts through some of that. The technology has improved so dramatically over the past several years that treatment sessions can take place securely and privately over a handheld phone or a computer,” he adds. “It’s really having a huge impact.”

Still, despite these advances along both the treatment and policy paths, Arizona, like many other states, struggles to cope. “The overarching question,” Fowls says, “is how do we make sure there is a continuity of care from one treatment option to another to prevent any gaps? That’s the challenge. The answer is going to help bring about some much needed further change.”

“We’re trying to evolve in terms of how we provide care to individuals,” Trinh adds.

“I think we’ll be on our way to helping solve this dilemma when we can establish a parallel path regarding what businesses, hospitals and treatment facilities are attempting to do. This is the right time to really make a conscious effort to advocate for true team effort—true synergy in everyone’s offering, so we can make sure we don’t see these individuals falling through the cracks of treatment disconnection.”

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

POLICY INTO PRACTICE Buttressing the philosophical changes in the nature of treatment, government policy is also helping to make strides in mental health.

“Arizona has made mental health awareness and treatment a major priority. From both an emerging treatment and a government perspective, we actually do better with mental health than a lot of other states in the country,” notes Dr. Don Fowls, president of the Arizona Psychiatric Society, a branch of the American Psychiatric Association, which represents and professionally advances the work of nearly 40,000 member psychiatrists throughout the U.S. Fowls agrees with Trinh that the opioid epidemic has radically altered the nature of illness and treatment in Arizona. “I think what’s changed over the past several years— what’s really affected the whole mental health universe—is the opioid substance abuse crisis, along with the increase in the rate of suicides, particularly among kids. It’s hit people at all levels of the economic spectrum.”

He points out that one of the many concrete and positive measures Arizona has enacted occurred when former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer took steps to support the expansion of Medicaid. “It enabled a couple hundred thousand people in this state to get on the Medicaid rolls— people who didn’t have insurance previously,” Fowls notes.

In fact, he says that Arizona has established a pretty strong fiscal connection between behavioral health and Medicaid. As he explains, “Just in Maricopa County alone, there’s about $850 million in state and federal dollars that cover services for about 26,000 people. That’s really contributed to increased awareness and treatment of mental illness throughout the state.”

Fowls believes another reason Arizona is seeing enhanced

mental health awareness from a policy standpoint is the fact that current Governor Doug Ducey has been such an active supporter of mental health advancements in the state.

“He really has a heart for this stuff,” Fowls says of Ducey. “He’s been a very, very strong supporter of mental health and substance abuse benefits. The Governor’s done a lot of work to try and get the entire community involved—the businesses, the schools, etc.—and make this more of a wholesale community issue rather than just a government issue. It’s been a huge driving force in the state’s attitude toward mental health.”

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Goodyear, AZ Named after Charles Goodyear, founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., this southwestern Phoenix suburb features more than 188 square miles of plains, rivers and mountains. And while it’s the spring training home for Cincinnati and Cleveland, it’s also where cotton—one of Arizona’s five C’s—is heavily produced. Find out more about this burgeoning city in the next issue of Elevate AZ.

PHOTO Mark Lipczynski

Spring 2020 | ElevateAZ.com

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