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Un enfoque en los mƔs vulnerables:
Defensa, educaciĆ³n y acciĆ³n en materia de salud de migrantes y fronteras

HistĆ³ricamente, SEAHEC se ha centrado en los mĆ”s vulnerables: nuestras comunidades rurales y fronterizas, los migrantes y los trabajadores agrĆ­colas. A travĆ©s de nuestras iniciativas, asociaciones y programas, llegamos a comunidades, familias e individuos y colaboramos con ellas. Una forma eficaz de hacerlo es mediante la utilizaciĆ³n y el apoyo de trabajadores de salud comunitarios (TSC).

Nuestras iniciativas programƔticas mƔs recientes tienen a los TSC en el centro.

Nuestra historia:

El programa del Centro de EducaciĆ³n para la Salud del Ɓrea ( AHEC ) fue establecido por el Congreso de los Estados Unidos en 1971 para abordar la escasez y las disparidades de la fuerza laboral sanitaria. Desde entonces, ha crecido hasta incluir aproximadamente 250 centros AHEC ubicados estratĆ©gicamente en comunidades rurales y desatendidas en todo el paĆ­s.

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El primer AHEC de Arizona, el Centro de EducaciĆ³n para la Salud del Sureste de Arizona, SEAHEC, se estableciĆ³ como 501Ā©3 en 1985 para ā€œreclutar, capacitar y retener profesionales de la salud culturalmente competentes en los condados de Cochise, Pima y Santa Cruzā€. Kevin Driesen fue designado por la Oficina de Salud Rural del Estado para administrar SEAHEC mientras contrataba a un nuevo director, Michael Merrill luego sirviĆ³ de 1986 a 1987, seguido por Cheri Hoen Shamel en 1988. Coordinadora del programa de 1986 a 1987, Karen Halverson fue luego seleccionada para servir como directora, donde lo hizo hasta 2007. La directora interina Suzanne David sirviĆ³ en el Ć­nterin hasta que Gail Emrick fue contratada como directora ejecutiva en 2008 y continĆŗa desempeƱando ese cargo ahora.

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Con la aprobaciĆ³n de los fondos de la loterĆ­a estatal de una iniciativa especial de los votantes, la Junta de Regentes de Arizona designĆ³ fondos para la oficina del programa AHEC de la Universidad de Arizona, que administra el apoyo a los Centros AHEC y nuestros programas en tramitaciĆ³n.

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Desde entonces, los esfuerzos de SEAHEC han aumentado y nuestras asociaciones nos han permitido colaborar en una amplia variedad de iniciativas de salud.

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DespuĆ©s de servir durante mĆ”s de 30 aƱos como AHEC regional financiada por el estado y el gobierno federal, SEAHEC ha hecho la transiciĆ³n hacia una misiĆ³n y una visiĆ³n mĆ”s centradas. En el otoƱo de 2021, SEAHEC tomĆ³ la decisiĆ³n estratĆ©gica de centrar nuestros esfuerzos en las crecientes preocupaciones de salud en nuestra regiĆ³n fronteriza binacional. Si bien ya no somos parte del programa Arizona AHEC, estamos respondiendo a las necesidades emergentes sirviendo a las comunidades migrantes y fronterizas a travĆ©s de la promociĆ³n, la investigaciĆ³n y la acciĆ³n.

Ā”EncontrarĆ” amplias oportunidades para unirse a nosotros en oportunidades de aprendizaje-servicio, campaƱas de promociĆ³n, estudios independientes y mĆ”s!

No hay mejor ejercicio para el corazĆ³n que levantar a las personas.

Gail Emrick ā€¢ Directora Ejecutiva

Creemos en el cambio

NUESTROS VALORES

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SEAHEC valora la pasiĆ³n, la innovaciĆ³n, la inclusiĆ³n, la responsabilidad respetuosa y los programas impulsados por la comunidad y los socios.

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PASIƓN

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Nos apasiona nuestra misiĆ³n, nuestro trabajo y las personas a las que servimos.

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INNOVACIƓN

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Al cultivar las mejores prĆ”cticas y un servicio de calidad, utilizamos estrategias innovadoras para abordar los desafĆ­os de salud Ćŗnicos de nuestras comunidades rurales, tribales y fronterizas.

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INCLUSIVIDAD

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Creyendo que la diversidad es una fortaleza, celebramos las cualidades Ćŗnicas de nuestro personal y junta directiva, nuestros estudiantes y las comunidades a las que servimos.

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RESPONSABILIDAD RESPETUOSA

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Manteniendo la transparencia financiera y programƔtica y difundiendo nuestros resultados, cumplimos nuestros compromisos con nuestros donantes, socios y comunidades.

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IMPULSADO POR LA COMUNIDAD Y LOS SOCIOS

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Al practicar la humildad cultural y apoyar el empoderamiento de los demƔs, estamos impulsados por la comunidad y los socios.

SEAHEC Timeline

  • 1985- SEAHEC established as first AHEC Center in Arizona.

  • 1986- Michael Merrill first SEAHEC Director.

  • 1988- Karen Halverson appointed as SEAHEC Director serving the next 20 years as our mighty leader.

  • 1989- SEAHEC conducts Native American Training project, with community health representatives receiving a 40-hour course on teaching skills for tribal health promotion/disease prevention

  • 1990- SEAHEC receives its first federal Health Education Training Center (HECT) grant, which would extend until 2004. This workforce program focused on border states – Arizona, California, Texas, and New Mexico.

  • 1991- SEAHEC & Mariposa Community Health Center develop curriculum and train community health workers, to conduct home visits. MCHC’s Platicamos Salud Program launched.

  • 1992- SEAHEC offers continuing education programming “Elderx: Seniors & Substances”, focusing on elders and addressing alcoholism and prescription drug use. Dr. Andrew Weil was a guest presenter.

  • 1993- SEAHEC produces a photo-novela on warning signs of stroke, staring Eleazar Garcia and others.

  • 1994- SEAHEC conducts “Meds in a bag” events, taking pharmacists to senior centers allowing elderly to ask questions on medications, dosages, expiration dates, etc.

  • 1995- Through HECT program, SEAHEC collaborated with the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry project on effects of chemicals in environment, including lead prevention education.

  • 1996- Arizona’s voters approve Proposition 203, allotting a portion of annual State Lottery funds to AHEC Centers, among other efforts.

  • 1997- Arizona AHEC programs strengthen and expand with designated State funding from Prop 203.

  • 1999- Arizona AHECs participate in Statewide Tobacco funded programs including CHAMPS, developing curriculum, training, and evaluation to decrease tobacco use among Arizona residents.

  • 2000- SEAHEC & partners take the annual EMS on the Border conference to Rocky Point, providing binational training to first responders and promoting coordination between AZ & SN health systems.

  • 2001- The Douglas Diabetes Project launched through SEAHEC, a culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach effort, funded through Arizona Department of Health Services.

  • 2002- SEAHEC conducts STEPS, a school health index, in Nogales elementary schools.

  • 2003- Border Health SI Program was introduced.

  • 2004- SEAHEC creates a 3-hour CME program including use of CD’s, on Lupus and patient management.

  • 2005- SEAHEC receives Southern Arizona Border Health Careers Opportunities Program (HCOP) grant funding from UA.

  • 2005/8- Santa Cruz Community Foundation funds youth from Nogales/Rio Rico to attend health career camp at Cochise Community College.

  • 2007- SEAHEC and its local Nogales high school health career club are part of innovative binational research effort to produce and test biodiesel, with Rio Rico Fire District, University of AZ and ADEQ.

  • 2008- Gail Emrick hired as SEAHEC Executive Director.

  • 2009- SEAHEC coordinates with UA Health Science Colleges to implement VISTHA, “Visionary Interprofessional Student Training in Health”, in Nogales and the border region.

  • 2010- SEAHEC is awarded USDHHS HRSA Network Planning grant and launches “Arizona Border Communities Health Network” working on border community collaborative efforts.

  • 2011- Funded by USDHHS, Office of Women’s Health, SEAHEC provides CME training on “A Coordinated Public Health Initiative to address Domestic & Sexual Violence”. Partner AZ Coalition Against DV.

  • 2012- SEAHEC is awarded National Heart, Blood & Lung Institutes “Healthy Hearts” grant, working with tribal CHRs and Latino CHW groups around state to test culturally appropriate heart health curriculum.

  • 2013- SEAHEC organizes the Developmental Disabilities on the Border conference, with funding from Arizona Department of Developmental Disabilities.

  • 2014- SEAHEC Director Gail Emrick recognized as Border Health Employee of the Year award by the Secretary of Health, Sonora, Mexico.

  • 2015- SEAHEC awarded a USDHHS HRSA “Benefits Counseling & Enrollment” grant, “Casa Saludable”, with FQHC partners, increasing # of insured persons and utilization of health services in Southern Arizona.

  • 2016- SEAHEC and Tohono O’odham Community College provide the first ever college credit health professions summer camp for high school students interested in pursuing health careers.

  • 2017- SEAHEC awarded a Community Innovations grant from Legacy Foundation of Southern Arizona, constructing a community center in Winchester Heights Cochise County.

  • 2018- SEAHEC awarded Non-Profit of the Year by Arizona Community Foundation of Cochise.

  • 2019- SEAHEC wins Rural Health Program of the Year award from the Arizona Rural Health Association.

  • 2020- SEAHEC celebrates 35th years of success, strengthening the health workforce pipeline in rural, tribal and border communities of southern Arizona!

  • 2021 SEAHEC awarded the National AHEC Organization Center of Excellence for Community Programs

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