About Us
Our Story
As the world has taken dramatic shifts over the last several years, the need for mental health services has continued to grow. Maria Ingalla is a psychiatric nurse practitioner who has spent a decade working in psychiatry and fighting against a broken system. Despite launching her own practice, Paperflower Psychiatry, to create a more sustainable and equitable place to receive care, she continued to witness people struggle to afford therapy, medication appointments and their medications.
No one should have to decide if they want to buy their food this month, or their medications.
No one should have to say "well, I can't afford therapy any longer" and just give up.
We are here to bridge the gap.
Our Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
The Paperflower Foundation ensures that no Arizonan loses access to essential mental health care because of financial hardship, loss of insurance, or gaps in coverage. We provide financial assistance for therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and prescriptions to help individuals maintain continuity of care during times of transition or instability.
Vision
A future where every person in Arizona can sustain their mental health treatment regardless of changes in employment, insurance, or income. We envision a future in which mental wellness is treated as a right, not a privilege.
Guiding Principles
Community Collaboration: We partner with providers, advocates, and community systems to close gaps in access and continuity of care.
Equity Is Intentional: We actively prioritize those excluded by cost, systems, or circumstance.
Focused Impact: We focus resources on LGBTQ+, neurodivergent and BIPOC communities where gaps in mental health access are most pronounced.
Trust Through Transparency: Every dollar is tracked.
The Need
Many individuals in Arizona experience interruptions in mental health care when their insurance changes or ends. People can fall through the cracks during transitions such as job loss, waiting periods for new coverage, or when Medicaid benefits are reduced or discontinued.
For those living paycheck to paycheck, even a short lapse in coverage can mean choosing between paying for medication and meeting basic needs. Interruptions in therapy or psychiatric treatment can lead to symptom relapse, crisis, or hospitalization. These are outcomes that could often be prevented with short-term financial support.
The Paperflower Foundation bridges this gap by offering timely assistance to sustain care and stability. Our work complements public health systems like Medicaid by filling temporary or partial coverage gaps and supporting individuals who do not qualify for benefits yet still face significant financial strain.
