ValueOptions® Announces Maricopa County Community Reinvestment Grants
Funds Support Innovative Behavioral Health Services
Phoenix, Arizona — February 8, 2006
Recovering from mental illness is an arduous journey requiring a multitude of support services. Recognizing this need, community representatives in Maricopa County, working with ValueOptions, have selected 17 local organizations to receive community reinvestment grants totaling more than $440,000 designed to help members of ValueOptions' network receive the care and support they need.
"The focus of community reinvestment is to fund projects and activities that support and strengthen the behavioral health system, but for which no other resources are available," said Vivianne M. Chaumont, CEO of ValueOptions
of Arizona. "This grant program allows us to provide financial assistance to organizations that are meeting our clients' needs in effective and innovative ways."
As part of ValueOptions' commitment to Arizona, the organization has fulfilled its promise to invest a portion of its net earnings back into the community. ValueOptions enlisted a diverse committee of volunteers to help determine where the funds would be most effective. The committee was comprised of ValueOptions' clients, family members, advocates, providers, employees, and other stakeholders, including a state legislator. Their role was to ensure that the distribution of the dollars was not only effective, but also fair and impartial.
The committee reviewed over 80 community proposals and awarded grants to 17 organizations, ranging from $8,000 to $50,000. Priority was given to programs that targeted unmet needs and addressed cultural barriers. Grants were also given to three innovative business enterprises owned and staffed by ValueOptions' clients – including a home cleaning service, a honey-pollination company, and candle-making business.
"Having meaningful employment is a critical part of recovering from mental illness, but owning your own business is even more empowering. These inventive enterprises are helping people to lead a life of recovery," Chaumont said.