About Us
Indígena Salud y Bienestar (Indígena Health & Wellness, IHW) began in 2008 as part of Asociación MAYAB, responding to the needs of the Yucatecan Maya community in San Francisco. By 2010, significant advocacy by Dr. Estela García led to dedicated funding for Indigenous communities.
Initially, a group of seven promotores offered workshops and case management, supporting individuals as they navigated health, housing, and immigration systems. In 2012, Instituto Familiar de la Raza took over the program and expanded services to include Indigenous communities from across Latin America, with an increased emphasis on mental health.
From 2015 to 2019, the program also supported newly arrived Indigenous youth at International High School, providing non-clinical case management and peer support. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, services expanded to include food assistance and a program aimed at preventing cardiovascular disease, which also led to the publication of the first IHW/IFR book and podcast.
In 2021, the Jornal-Héroes program formally established a wellness space for Indigenous male day laborers. Throughout its history, the program has provided case management, evolving from a promotor model to include non-clinical social workers and, in 2023, a new Care Manager to strengthen culturally competent support for clients—many of whom are newcomers facing language barriers and the effects of migration-related trauma.
Our Purpose
Salud y Bienestar Indígena (Indígena Health & Wellness, IHW) is the program of Instituto Familiar de la Raza (IFR) that addresses the needs of the growing Indigenous community living in San Francisco. IHW aims to create and foster opportunities for emotional and spiritual healing while promoting wellness among Indigenous families. Our program reflects the importance of language, culture, and tradition as powerful drivers of health and well-being. These activities also create opportunities for early identification and intervention for families facing trauma, depression, addiction, and other health and mental health concerns.
Mission
IHW aims to raise awareness about mental health among the communities we serve while highlighting the importance of culturally competent interventions that connect with the Indigenous community’s cosmovision and its pre-Hispanic healing practices.
Vision
To ensure accessible and culturally competent mental health services—and the social conditions that support them—for the Indigenous community living in San Francisco.
What We Offer
Salud y Bienestar Indígena (Indígena Health & Wellness) provides culturally relevant Care Management that connects clients with services while prioritizing their needs and addressing language and cultural barriers. The most common client needs include immigration support, healthcare access, housing, conflict resolution, navigating the education system, and direct referrals to Mental Health Services (MHS), which remain a key priority. Care Management services range from comprehensive to intensive support, assisting newly arrived participants with cases lasting from 90 days to over a year.
Peer Support Groups use a psychosocial methodology that blends mental health conversations with art projects, reflecting IFR’s La Cultura Cura philosophy. Led by IHW promotores, these groups often serve as an initial introduction to Mental Health Services for participants who are new to therapy. Through art and dialogue, participants explore experiences of trauma, loss, and adversity. Groups have diversified over time, including Taller for female-identified participants and Jornal-Héroes for Indigenous male-identified individuals. IHW currently holds two weekly workshops and refers participants to Care Management and individual therapy as needed. Increasing mental health awareness remains a primary goal, and further strengthening these group experiences is a strategic priority.
Communal spaces for healing are an inherent practice within Indigenous communities, and Salud y Bienestar Indígena works to support and promote these spaces by hosting spiritual practices such as Mayan ceremonies, Elder Circles, and other traditional practices inherited from Indigenous ancestors. These gatherings allow participants to connect with and preserve their most sacred traditions and are part of the many-medicine model promoted and practiced by IFR.
Referral Process
Given the program’s strong reputation among Indigenous community leaders, approximately 85% of participants are referred by community members who are current or former recipients of our services. Referrals from sister programs and community-based organizations (CBOs) typically involve contacting one of our promotores or Care Managers, who then reach out to the potential participant. The Salud y Bienestar Indígena (Indígena Health & Wellness, IHW) team assesses individual needs and provides services accordingly. Individuals referred to IHW are contacted within one week of the referral date.
Contact Us
3143 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Phone: (415) 368-3299, Francisco Icala (Care Manager/Lead Promotor)
Phone: (415) 613-5172, Arturo Vega-Fernandez (Care Manager)
Phone: (415) 872-7464, Carlos Izaguirre (Program Director)
