Just Ask Mia Chatbot Now Connects Arizona Families to Critical Housing Services
We’re so excited to announce that Just Ask Mia, the intuitive, guided chatbot, now connects users statewide to housing services. The Chatbot’s continued development is supported by a grant from Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation.
The new housing resource flow guides families through the process of finding housing in their area while also providing links to additional resources for affordable housing options. By simplifying the process of accessing support, we hope to remove barriers and make essential services more accessible to everyone who needs them.
The Just Ask Mia chatbot, which was launched in May 2024 and has already served 2,700 Arizonans, also brings essential services like food, clothing and heat assistance to individuals and families across Arizona. Individuals can access the chatbot using the online chatbot at justaskmia.org, participating community partners’ websites or by text message.
The new housing resource flow was supported through a three-year $325,000 grant from Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, which is helping fund the expansion of the Just Ask Mia chatbot.
“Sprouts is committed to supporting initiatives that provide our communities with the resources needed to live healthier lives. We’re proud to support Valley Leadership in expanding the Just Ask Mia Chatbot, an innovative tool that connects Arizona families with essential information and access to the help they need.”
– Lyndsey Waugh, Executive Director of Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation.
This innovative resource came to life with support from the Garcia Family Foundation and Together for Arizona and is powered by 211 and the collaborative efforts of Valley Leadership, Together for Arizona, Solari, 211, and the Family Involvement Center. The collective has been working to bring Just Ask Mia to families through community partners they already trust, such as school districts and community-based organizations.
“It’s exciting to see the community embrace Mia, because it’s really a game-changer in helping families get the services they need. The addition of the new housing flow will take Mia’s ability to help people in need to a whole other level. We’ve worked with the leading housing experts to build this new workflow and I cannot wait for people to have access to their knowledge and resources.”
– Stephen Flaaen, Impact Maker Team Lead with Valley Leadership
Valley Leadership is grateful for funders like the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, whose support has allowed us the opportunity to expand this innovative and easy-to-use technology, making a real difference for families in need. If you are interested in accessing the chatbot or hosting Mia on your website so you can help support Arizona families, visit justaskmia.org.
Special thanks to the following community partners who are already hosting and sharing Just Ask Mia with their communities
Arizona Head Start Association, Arouet, Arizona Housing Coalition, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children’s Advocacy Center of Southern Arizona, Glendale Elementary School District, Higher Ground, ICAN, National Alliance of Mental Illness Valley of the Sun, Pipeline AZ, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona, Roosevelt Elementary School District, St. Joseph the Worker, Tempe Union High School District, Tolleson Elementary School District, and Yavapai Justice Mental Health Coalition.
About Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation
The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation is dedicated to creating healthier futures for the communities Sprouts serves through nutrition education, health and wellness programs, and access to fresh, nutritious foods. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, the Foundation supports initiatives such as building school gardens; teaching hands-on cooking programs that focus on growing and preparing healthy meals; and providing individuals with the essential knowledge and tools to develop lifelong healthy eating habits. Since its launch in 2015, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has awarded over $25 million in grants to organizations on the front lines of nutrition education and wellness. An estimated 3 million children benefit from programs supported by the Foundation each year. For more information on the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation visit www.sprouts.com/foundation.