Mission and Vision

The mission of Instituto Familiar de la Raza (IFR) is to promote and enhance the health and well-being of the Chicano/Latino/Indígena community of San Francisco.

Serving over 6,000 clients each year, IFR provides health & wellness programs & services targeting the San Francisco Latino community. We are committed to addressing the most difficult issues impacting our community, whether that is HIV, violence, trauma, or other behavioral & mental health issues. Our programs recognize the full spectrum of wellness, spanning a continuum of mental health, HIV-related & social services, including health promotion & prevention, family support, early intervention, case management, violence prevention, comprehensive behavioral health services, and cultural activities and practices. 

Our Vision

IFR's services are different because our vision is unique. One of our key principles is: la cultura cura - culture heals. Our services, interventions, and activities embrace cultural identity as a strength. For this reason, we utilize a cultural lens in all programs, services, and activities. 

Our vision is to build a healthy community by honoring and building on culture and spirit for what they bring to health and healing; nurturing relationships of mutual respect, support, and collaboration across communities; offering a welcoming and safe place to heal; promoting a healthy and healing environment throughout our community; speaking out for justice and encouraging others in their own power and voice to speak their truth; and supporting the self-determination of our communities. 

IFR's Guiding Principles

Since its founding in 1978, IFR has been guided by three core principles that provide the framework for our work. They include:

Tú eres mi otro yo/We are one: This indigenous teaching of the Americas reflects the profound connection and interdependence that we have to each other and all that is natural around us. It binds us together as a community, regardless of our individual status in the world. Consequently, our collective health and well-being is a community responsibility. To disenfranchise one of us is to disenfranchise all of us. Our actions or inactions affect our well-being and that of our community.

La cultura cura: Culture is a filter through which our worldview, including health and wellness, is defined and experienced. Within all cultures, there are inherent resources—coping skills, resilience factors, healthy practices and traditions—that are essential for living a balanced life. These elements reflect and celebrate our diversity. IFR integrates culturally based approaches that promote healthy cultural identity development and resilience.

Sí se puede: First inspired by the United Farmworkers’ struggle for social justice, and the personal and collective ability to overcome adversity, this principle reflects our determined spirit and resilience as individuals and as a community. It is the belief that we can overcome adversity, create social change, and maintain healthy and vibrant communities.