Meet Michael Hughes of A New Leaf in Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Hughes.

Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began my career working in the education field with troubled kids. Now, I am starting my 41st year here at A New Leaf. It’s been a career that I have been very blessed to have. To be in a position all these years, at a job you love, and the ability to help the less fortunate has been beyond rewarding. I am just very fortunate to have the support system from the community, staff, and board members. Being a part of the agency as it has grown and changed with the trends has been an incredible journey.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are always obstacles and challenges when we are trying to do more with less. Programs are underfunded. We are always trying to raise the necessary funds to provide quality service and keep up with the trends. There are also underfunded mandates and bureaucracy obstacles. We need to raise 15%-20% of our overall budget to make up the difference in what our funding versus the cost gap is. Our overall goal is to raise $5m to sustain our programs annually.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with A New Leaf – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
This agency has now grown into three main components: housing/shelters, integrated and behavioral health, and community services. Growing in an organization with more than 500 employees, we have been able to respond to our community’s needs and provide a full array of services within the social determinants of health.
Our agency has always been very transparent and supportive of other agencies. We are always willing to step in and assist and not afraid to take on new challenges. I am proud of how we have grown and incorporated other agencies who share our values to become part of our family.

As for what sets us apart, how we get to our mission is just as important as achieving it. We are always willing —our reputation is such that if you need support and assistance, we always find a way to help.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
There is currently a strong focus on trauma-informed care for both adults and children, and an uptick in residential treatment for kids with difficult diagnoses.

Another emphasis is on 0-5-year-olds being school-ready, and providing access to preschool, parent classes, etc.
There is still a focus on housing the hardest to serve, particularly veterans and those diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI).

Finally, we are seeing an increase in awareness for workforce development and specific job training programs for sustainable employment and income.

Contact Info:

• Address: 868 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ 85203
• Website: http://www.turnanewleaf.org/
• Phone: 480-969-4024

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