LGBT community institutions are an essential part of our movement towards full economic and social equality. The loss of this agency in San Francisco is a tragedy of enormous scale. New Leaf has had a monumental impact on LGBT culture -- and local, state and national LGBT policy. Their clinical work and advocacy on behalf of trans people will be among their most lasting accomplishments.
Support your local LGBT institutions whenever and however you can -- especially now. They're essential to our community's long-term goals.
http://newleafservices.org/files/Press-Releases/New-Leaf-Closure.pdfFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2010
Contact: Yvette De Andreis
(415) 255-0381
ydeandreis@newleafservices.org
New Leaf: Services For Our Community Closes after 35 Years
SAN FRANCISCO ----- New Leaf: Services For Our Community announced today that it is
taking steps to transition services and close its doors after 35 years. Increasing expenses,
decreasing revenue and the worst economic environment in more than 70 years makes it
impossible for the mental health and substance abuse treatment provider to continue serving its
clients. The agency regularly sees approximately 1,300 clients a year and provides over 23,000
treatment sessions each year. New Leaf's leadership team is working closely with the City of
San Francisco and sister LGBT agencies to ensure that the needs of these clients will continue to
be addressed.
New Leaf began as two separate agencies in 1975. Those agencies, Operation Concern and 18th
Street Services, were merged in 1995 to form the present non-profit. Programs developed by
New Leaf and its predecessors forged new models for the treatment of mental health clients
among the LGBT community. At that time, it was difficult for gay men and lesbians to find
affirming treatment that respected their lives and loves. The American Psychiatric Association
had only recently removed homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders when these agencies opened in 1975.
Despite New Leaf's many years of successful service and its admirable standing in the
community, the agency cannot continue to sustain its services in the face of severe financial
reversals, and will close its doors in September of this year. "We are profoundly saddened by this
loss," said Interim Director Thom Lynch, "but the economic forces we are facing were just too
much for us to overcome."
"Still our legacy will continue and thrive. We've trained hundreds of clinicians throughout the
Bay Area over the years. We've developed an understanding that our community's needs are
unique and require services specifically tailored to meet those needs. We are working closely
with the city to ensure that culturally competent LGBT services will continue to be provided by
agencies ready to pick up where we are leaving off," he added.
The decision was made after months of intense work by the board of directors and the agency
management, who weighed carefully how New Leaf's clients could best be served. In order to
consider all factors and perspectives, a committee of key community stakeholders met for 3
months earlier this year; eight focus groups were conducted with donors, staff, volunteers, and
program participants; and an online survey was distributed to the broader community. This work
resulted in vital feedback which was factored into the board's ultimate decision to transition
services.
In keeping with New Leaf's commitment to its clients, the agency's clinicians will work closely
with a transition team of therapists provided by the city to place clients into appropriate
treatment programs. This team will take the time needed to meet with clients and plan together
what those options will best serve the client. Wherever possible, New Leaf will work to maintain
the client-therapist relationships. The agency's award-winning clinical training program will be
transferred to AIDS Health Project in San Francisco.
The decision to close New Leaf was made by the Board of Directors at a special meeting held on
August 15, 2010. "Over the past 35 years, New Leaf has pioneered and innovated in the arena of
clinically excellent services for the LGBT community. We are proud of our long-standing
commitment to offering accessible, affordable, and culturally competent services to those who
have needed us most; especially people with HIV, seniors, youth, and low-income individuals.
This legacy will carry on for decades to come through the dedicated interns we've trained, the
outstanding clinicians with whom we've served, and the increasingly healthy and connected
LGBT community we've helped along the way," said Board President Christopher Berini.
The agency is still accepting donations to help cover the administrative costs of closing as well
as maintaining services for existing clients who will be transitioning. Donations can be made at
www.newleafservices.org.
Thirty-Five Years of Service
1974 Operation Concern founded, launches Men's Mental Health Services
1976 18th Street Services founded, begins Substance Abuse Services
1976 Operation Concern introduces services to LGBT families
1977 Operation Concern begins Women's Mental Health Services
1978 Operation Concern starts Clinical Intern Training Program
1982 Operation Concern introduces Gay and Lesbian Outreach To Elders (GLOE)
1991 Operation Concern launches the HIV Mental Health Program
1995 18th Street Services and Operation Concern merge to form New Leaf: Services For Our Community
1998 New Leaf co-founds Dimensions Queer Youth Clinic
2003 New Leaf introduces Geriatric Mental Health Services
2010 New Leaf publishes "Best Practices in LGBT Healthcare" in collaboration with other agencies
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