SEAHEC CHWs work in rural Mental Health & Wellness featured in televised coverage of Arizona Public Medias Arizona Illustrated

In February 2025, our “small but mighty” SEAHEC was a feature segment of Arizona Public Media televised program known as “Arizona Illustrated”. While our work in rural community health & wellness began with the inception of our organization, our focus on mental health & wellbeing received national acclaim with our recent NIH ComPASS award, in fall 2023. Being one of only 25 community based organizations in the nation to receive such an award ($6 million for 5 years, with possibilities of funding for up to 10 years), SEAHEC is now on the map in our provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate care.

With our Press Release (see related article), we were contacted by AZPM’s mental health reporter Cait NiSimon asking to feature our project and to know more about our organization. In March 2024, she and her production team accompanied SEAHEC to our regularly scheduled visits to Graham and Greenlee counties. SEAHEC CHWs Guadalupe Gonzalez and Erin Sol were featured providing direct service through one-on-one health education during the local food pantry distribution activity. Following that event, the AZPM team accompanied us to a local “Health Equity Research Assembly” – or local community meeting, where community members shared their stories on frustrations with accessing mental and behavioral health services.

Lupita Gonzalez, Erin Sol and Pablo Albelais (SEAHEC CHWs)

SEAHEC Executive Director Brenda Sanchez was featured during her explanation of the Proyecto Juntos project and its potential impact on improving access to care. Throughout the segment CHWs Guadalupe Gonzalez, Erin Sol and Pablo Albelais share their experiences thus far throughout the assessment phase of Proyecto Juntos. The in-depth coverage provided by the AZPM segment was compelling and highlights the difficulties many rural communities face in receiving care. At the same time, the program provided heart-warming coverage of our amazing Community Health Workers and the commitment they have to improving the lives and services provided to our rural southern Arizona community members.