Una Bella Vita Tucson

Una Bella Vita Tucson exists to ensure that no family in Southern Arizona has to navigate an eating disorder alone.

We are a Tucson-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting adolescents and their families who are impacted by eating disorders. Our work centers on connection, education, and tangible support, because recovery is not linear, and families need more than just referrals to survive it.

Eating disorders affect individuals across all backgrounds, yet access to care remains limited, costly, and confusing, especially in our region. Families are often left waiting for treatment, traveling out of state for higher levels of care, or managing medical and emotional crises with little guidance. Una Bella Vita Tucson was created to help bridge those gaps.

We provide no-cost, peer-based therapeutic processing groups for adolescents and their caregivers, offering a safe, inclusive space where families can process their experiences, reduce isolation, and learn how to navigate the journey together. These groups are facilitated by trained professionals and are designed to meet families where they are, without judgment, shame, or pressure to “fix” or rush recovery.

In addition to our groups, Una Bella Vita Tucson offers direct financial assistance to help offset the real-life costs associated with eating disorder care. This includes support for medical expenses not covered by insurance, travel to inpatient or residential treatment facilities, hotel stays, meals, and other critical needs that arise when a child requires higher-level care. For many families, these costs are the difference between accessing treatment or going without.

Education and advocacy are also central to our mission. We work closely with schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations to increase awareness of eating disorders, reduce stigma, and promote early identification and compassionate, weight-inclusive care. Through presentations, trainings, and community outreach, we strive to be a trusted local resource for both families and professionals.

Una Bella Vita Tucson is not a medical treatment center, nor do we claim to “cure” eating disorders. Instead, we focus on walking alongside families, providing support through the uncertainty, fear, and exhaustion that so often accompany this journey. We believe healing happens in community, and that families deserve a place to land while they find their footing. We often say, "I can do hard things," and we begin to show parents and adolescents that they are, in fact, doing hard things, and that we are by their sides the whole time. 

Since our founding, we have served hundreds of adolescents and caregivers across Southern Arizona, and our reach continues to grow each year. As the need for eating disorder support rises, so does our commitment to expanding access, deepening partnerships, and building a stronger safety net for families in crisis.

At its core, Una Bella Vita Tucson is about hope. It is about reminding families that even in the hardest moments, a beautiful life is still possible, and that they do not have to walk this path alone.

Your support through Arizona Gives helps us keep our programs accessible, respond quickly to families in need, and continue building a community where connection truly saves lives.

Together, we are building the net.