Casa
de Esperanza was established as a 501(c)(3) private non-profit
human service organization by a group of community leaders in
1988. Today, Casa’s services are centralized in our 15,800
square foot facility, specially designed for intergenerational
programming and made possible by the successful completion of
a $1.8 million capital campaign in 1997.
Casa’s programs and services span all age groups. Our state
licensed day care programs include
Los Niños del Valle Childcare Center for children 2
to 5 years old and the Adult Day
Health Care Center providing care for adults needing assistance
with activities of daily living as well as respite for their family
caregiver. The Casa
Community Center is home to educational presentations and activities of interest to the community. The Community
Center also houses Green Valley's Senior Lunch, a place where seniors can conregate for social interaction, and a nutritious noon meal. Casa Behavioral
Health Services provides treatment
and prevention programs.
Treatment includes outpatient counseling services,
while Prevention Services provide education and training about
critical issues such as domestic violence.
Over the years, Casa has developed extensive resources to deliver our wide variety of services. Casa’s success is due—in part—to the fact that its multiple programs are facilitated under one administration, one roof, and one well-developed volunteer program. This cost effectiveness allows Casa to extend its resources not only to more than one program, but also to the enrichment of services offered within each program.
Casa’s hallmark intergenerational programming is a perfect
example of how Casa unifies and directs resources to deliver enhanced
service to more than one program. This inventive programming provides
a way for the children and elders of our community to live and
learn together. We know that quality time spent between a child
and an older adult enhances natural development, builds self-esteem,
and improves the quality of life—for both the child and
the older adult. Contact between the generations occurs at Casa
on a daily basis in all three-day programs. We are one of only
a few shared site facilities in the country offering day care
programs for both children and older adults.
A professional staff and a large corps of dedicated volunteers
support Casa’s programs. We serve the geographic area that
includes the rural communities of Sahuarita, Continental, Amado
and Arivaca as well as the retirement community of Green Valley.
Click here for a copy of our Annual
Report.
Staff
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Bill McCreery Executive Director Bill McCreery, LPC has been with Casa de Esperanza since 1993 and has been Executive Director since June of 1997. Prior to that he was Clinical Director for 4 years. Bill has a BA in Business Administration from Western State College of Colorado with 12 years business management experience. He also has a Masters Degree in Counseling from Northern Arizona University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Arizona. Bill's unique combination of business and counseling knowledge makes him an ideal leader for Casa de Esperanza. |
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Nancy James Development Director Nancy James brings many years of administrative experience with nonprofit organizations to her position as Director of Development. She is responsible for cultivating relationships with new and existing donors, working with the Board of Directors and volunteer fundraising committees, and marketing. Nancy has lived in Arizona for over 28 years, receiving her BS degree from Northern Arizona University in Cultural Anthropology and Communications. |
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Barbara Salazar Volunteer Manager Barbara Salazar coordinates and supervises the volunteer programs for both Casa de Esperanza and our neighbor – the adult continuing care community, La Posada. As a long-time resident of Santa Cruz Valley and as the former Director of Los Niños del Valle for 22 years, Barbara has extensive personal and working knowledge of the populations within our service area and of the importance of volunteerism in building and sustaining healthy communities. She, herself, has been a volunteer with various organizations and projects including having served as a Casa de Esperanza board member and capital campaign committee member. Barbara studied Early Child Education at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. |
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Sage Bergstrom Clinical Director Sage Bergstrom MSW, LCSW has been the Clinical Director of Casa de Esperanza since 1999. She is a licensed clinical social worker with 27 years' post-Master's degree experience having worked in a wide variety of settings, including private practice, grass roots community organizations, educational (K-8, community college and university) institutions, an in-patient residential treatment center and an out-patient psychiatric crisis clinic. Sage is the co-author of "Treatment Strategies for Abused Adolescents: From Victim to Survivor" and she pens the "Prime Time" column for the Green Valley News & Sun. In addition to her clinical specialty in trauma recovery, she is most interested in promoting women’s leadership abilities. |
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Tari Muir Adult Day Services Director Tari Muir brings both vision and depth of experience to the management of Casa’s Adult Day Health Care program. She bears a Master’s Degree in Gerontology/Long Term Care Management from Naropa University in Boulder, CO; has worked within assisted living settings, hospice organizations; and been Director of the Senior Companion Program at Family Counseling Agency in Tucson. Tari is inspired to expand and enhance activities which encourage the independence of ADHC participants through opportunities to socialize and to enjoy an enhanced quality of life. “Integral to that goal, she adds, is providing education, support and respite to caregivers as they struggle with their challenges.” Tari is mother of two, grandmother of one, an avid hiker, a practitioner of meditation and a gifted writer. |
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Barbara Snodgrass Los Niños del Valle Director Barbara Snodgrass assumed the directorship of Los Ninos del Valle in 2006 with qualifications that included being the former Program Manager of the Preschool and Intergenerational Program Activities Coordinator at LNDV. She has a BA in Elementary Education and an Associate Degree in Teacher/Director Early Childhood Education. Barbara has worked for Pima County Recreation and taught first and third grade at Continental School. She has been a community resident since 1976. |
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Sue Colley Sue Colley joined the Casa staff in 2007. She is responsible for developing and delivering diverse and engaging programs at the Community Center. Sue has over 18 years experience in developing similar types of programs for older adults as the Executive Director of the Cass County (MI) Council on Aging, Inc. Prior to working with the Council on Aging, she directed a variety of early childhood programs including the first manufacturing employer-sponsored child care in Indiana. Sue has been a resident of Green Valley since 2005. |
Board of Directors
Casa is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that are actively involved in organizational stewardship and capacity development. Each comes to the Board as area residents – professionally active, semi-retired, and retired - with vested interests in ensuring the success of Casa de Esperanza.
Officers of the Board:
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Mary Roush President Mary Roush, M.S., LPC, NCC, CAC III is a psycho-therapist whose studies and practice focus on chemical dependency issues and marriage and family dynamics. She serves as a trainer and consultant to treatment programs on a national level having facilitated workshops and developed intensive treatment and outpatient programs for more than 20 years. Mary has performed Board and administrative duties throughout her professional career. She has been a Board member since March 2003 and has served as President since the spring of 2006. |
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Dr. Theodore Walden Vice-President Ted Walden, Professor Emeritus, moved to Arizona in 2003. His 30-year academic career was focused on teaching management at the School of Social Work - Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He also served in executive positions with many committees and organizations including the Middlesex County United Way and New Jersey Social Work Licensure Board. Though retired, Ted’s remains as committed to community service as when in New Jersey. He has volunteered with the United Way of Southern Arizona, Green Valley Community Coordinating Council, Beth Shalom Temple Center and the Green Valley Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. He joined the Casa Board in March 2004. |
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Lisa Israel Secretary Lisa Israel, MPSA has been a member of the Executive Committee since 1996. She is Chief Executive Officer of La Posada – the first nationally accredited, not-for-profit continuing care community in Arizona. The La Posada campus adjoins the Casa facility and many resources and programs are linked by proximity as well as by Lisa’s on-going presence and efforts. She also chairs Casa’s Planning Committee. Lisa sits on several regional and national Boards and committees including the Tucson Airport Authority Operations Council, CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facility), CCIC (Continuing Care Insurance Company); Underwriting Committee. Her career has been distinguished by professionalism and dedication in the field of managed care and services for the Aging. |
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Earl A. Barker Treasurer Retired from a career of business management with GMC and Portland Cement, Earl Barker contributes significant marketing, administrative, and finance experience to the Casa Board. As Treasurer, Earl chairs the Fiscal Affairs Committee. Additionally, he actively promotes Casa, its mission and services, throughout the community as a member of both major fund-raising event committees – the Los Niños Golf Tournament and Reverse Raffle. Earl and his wife have been Green Valley residents since 1995. He has served on the Board since 2003 and as Treasurer since 2004. |
Directors:
Dave Hanson, Certified Public Accountant
Norma Heredia, Business Owner, Full Service Salon
Kevin Jordan, Bank Branch Manager
Susanne McQuade, Los Niños del Valle Parent
Dr. Thomas Purdon, Physician
Lynn Robinson, Business Manager, Real Estate
Michelle Stonehouse, Human Resources Manager
Lowell Tompkins, Investment Advisor
Casa in the News
Please visit our website again soon for press release articles that
we will post in this section.Click here to contact Casa for additional information.
