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NATIVE HEALTH History

NATIVE HEALTH started in 1978 as a small community nursing program. The agency has grown over its forty year history to offer a full array of health care and social services throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Highlights from NATIVE HEALTH’s History:

1978

  • “Phoenix Urban Indian Health Board, Inc.” (the agency’s original name) initiated as a Community Health Nursing Project. Personnel included an executive director, a secretary, a registered nurse supervisor, two licensed practical nurses and two advocates, October, 1978.

1983

  • Agency’s name changed to “Indian Community Health Service, Inc.”

1984

  • A Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Nutrition program was added through a subcontract with the Salt River Indian Community

1989

  • HIV/AIDS prevention services initiated through funding from Indian Health Service (I.H.S.)

1990

  • Alcohol and Substance Abuse treatment services initiated through I.H.S. funding

1992

  • Mental Health Services initiated with I.H.S. funding

1996

  • Agency’s name changed to “Native American Community Health Center, Inc.”
  • Family medical practice began with funds from Arizona Tobacco Tax and I.H.S.
  • Long Term Care Case (ALTCS) Management services initiated under Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

1999

  • Dental services initiated by NATIVE HEALTH

2001

  • Special Diabetes Program (SDPI) continued through fiscal year 2011 with an I.H.S. grant

2004

  • Agency’s name changed to NATIVE HEALTH. 

2006

  • Prenatal services began through Bethany Women’s Healthcare
  • HIV Youth Targeted Prevention Services provided from a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) grant

2007

  • Youth and Family Substance Abuse Treatment Services provided with a grant from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

2008

  • Women’s Services and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victim Services begin through I.H.S. grants

2010

  • Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status for NATIVE HEALTH and NHW Community Health Center

2011

  • Walter Murillo selected by the Board of Directors as the new CEO of NATIVE HEALTH
  • Diabetes Prevention Program received I.H.S. Advocacy Award for Living Well Traditionally Youth Diabetes Prevention Summer Camp
  • NATIVE HEALTH and NHW Community Health Center re-accredited for three years by Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)

2012

  • NATIVE HEALTH Information and Referral Center opened at MetroCenter Mall
  • Native Talk Arizona, a weekly radio show about health activities and community events produced and hosted by NATIVE HEALTH on Radio Phoenix, begins broadcasting
  • NATIVE HEALTH entered into an agreement with the Mexican Consulate
  • Integrated Behavioral Health Services added to NATIVE HEALTH and NHW Community Health Center.
  • Podiatry services added to NATIVE HEALTH and NHW Community Health Center.
  • Home Visiting Program for Native American families with children under five residing off reservation begins. The program concentrates on school readiness.
  • Grant for Native Americans with chronic homelessness and health concerns initiated with community partners.
  • Centers for Medicaid/Medicare (CMS) and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) added.
  • Partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank to begin Summer Food Service Program.

2013

  • Moved into new location at 4041 N. Central Avenue, Building C,  27,000 feet of clinical/office space.
  • Expansion of NHW Community Health Center to include behavioral health services.
  • Received “Innovation Award” from the Arizona Alliance of Community Health Centers for unique community outreach.

2014

  • First integrated (Medical and Behavioral Health) outpatient license in the State of Arizona.
  • Received “Big Shot for Arizona” by The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI).
  • NHW Community Health Center begins expanded hours.
  • Wellbearto, NATIVE HEALTH’s mascot, begins touring the world!
  • NATIVE HEALTH  begins new Community Garden
  • NATIVE HEALTH begins Wellness Warriors program, funded through the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

2015

  • Provided prenatal services through Phoenix Perinatal Associates
  • Hosted First Annual NATIVE HEALTH Bike Rodeo
  • Healthy Living classes instituted
  • Community Garden started with City of Phoenix/KeepPhoenixBeautiful
  • Wellness Warriors, youth and family healthy living program begins
  • New WIC Clinic in Guadalupe
  • NATIVE HEALTH Living Well Traditionally Youth Diabetes Prevention Camp moves to Camp Colley in Happy Jack, AZ
  • Received award – 36th National Indian and Native American Employment Training Conference – NH receives Outstanding Employer
  • First Annual NATIVE HEALTH Laughter is the Best Medicine Fundraiser
  • GRIC dental donation
  • ACA Healthcare Options Program

2016

  • NHW Dental clinic opens
  • New USDA program begins – children’s meals each day
  • Read it and Eat begins
  • Phoenix Perinatal Associates begins
  • Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility (DBME) begins at NH
  • 100th newsletter published
  • Traditional Garden at KeepPhoenixBeautiful begins
  • Native STAND begins
  • Cooking Matters begins
  • HRSA OSV
  • PBS Vitality Garden interview

2017

  • Psychiatry services begin
  • Children’s food backpack program begins
  • Recognized by National Association of Community Health Centers as one of top three CHC’s in addressing food insecurity
  • Car seat give-away in conjunction with Gila River Injury Prevention
  • NATIVE HEALTH Mesa opens
  • White House Drug Czar visits NATIVE HEALTH
  • Accreditation
  • Monthly Community Gathering and Dinners begin
  • New website uveiled
  • NextGen implemented
  • New NATIVE HEALTH Traditional Garden at Pierson
  • New Mexico PBS interview on new Traditional Garden and WW
  • Read it and Eat begins at NATIVE HEALTH Mesa

2018

  • New NATIVE HEALTH Community Garden (and grand opening) at Agave Farms
  • NATIVE HEALTH celebrates 40th Anniversary
  • Tele-psychiatry begins
  • Art therapy groups instituted
  • PIMC WIC Open House
  • Native Talk Arizona revamped
  • Arizona@Work opens at NATIVE HEALTH Central
  • Commodity Senior Food Program begins at NATIVE HEALTH Central, NHW Community Health Center and NATIVE HEALTH Mesa
  • NATIVE HEALTH Opens new Medical Clinic in partnership with Chicanos Por La Causa in Maryvale
  • NATIVE HEALTH Central extended hours begin
  • Culture through Art classes
    Regalia classes
    1st Annual Open House at NH Mesa

2019

  • United Healthcare collaborates with NATIVE HEALTH for a paid public health internship for Native American students 
  • Health and Human Services Directors visit NATIVE HEALTH Central for the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) 
  • NATIVE HEALTH Mesa Medical Clinic Grand Opening Celebration 
  • NATIVE HEALTH Mesa Medical Clinic Opens 
  • Brandon Lipps, Acting Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Jesus Mendoza and Bill Ludwig of the USDA visited NATIVE HEALTH Maryvale 
  • NATIVE HEALTH recognized nationally for being one of five national Summer Meals Heroes from No Kid Hungry
  • 1st Annual Youth Resiliency YouthFest Event 
  • 11th Anniversary of Native Talk Arizona
  • Red Out Benefit Concert 
  • Once Monthly Saturday Pediatric Dental Clinics kick off 
  • Special Native Families Connect Support Group kicks off
  • Increased food distribution
  • Virtual cultural classes
  • Telehealth appointments
  • Weekend COVID testing
  • Opening of NATIVE HEALTH Mesa clinic
  • NHW 10-year Anniversary
  • NHW expanded pediatric services
  • Re-introduction of Native STAND
  • MMIW events
  • Started online cultural classes
  • Recognition from NACHC
  • 6th Annual “Laughter is the Best Medicine”

2020

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona MobilizeAZ funds Food for Thought Diabetes Food Pantry and Food Coordinator 
  • NATIVE HEALTH CEO, Walter Murillo, receives Health Equity Consumer Health Advocate Award from Families USA
  • Telephonic visits implemented
  • Developed COVID-19 resource page
  • Food programs expanded due to COVID-19
  • Virtual care implemented
  • NATIVE HEALTH provides COVID-19 testing blitz events in partnership with Arizona Department of Health Services
  • Native Talk Arizona was added to Spotify and iTunes Podcasts
  • Talking Circles start with Arizona State University’s American Indian Student Support Services students
  • Drive thru flu shot events begin in partnership with Maricopa County Department of Public Health due to COVID-19
  • Virtual Classes
  • Expanded food programs
  • Delivered groceries to elders
  • Telehealth appointments
  • COVID-19 Testing events
  • COVID-19 Vaccine events
  • Saturday Wellness Clinics: Pediatrics and Well Women exams
  • Pediatric More than Masks campaign
  • Return of Native Talk AZ
  • Indigenous Kindergarten Bootcamp
  • STEM Classes
  • Indigenous Food box
  • Indigenous Cook Off
  • Virtual Open House
  • Drive thru Flu shots

2021

  • Saturday Pediatric Clinics
  • At home HIV testing kits available to the public
  • Urban Native American Senior Food Box program developed
  • Virtual Walk in Your Mocs Programming
  • Virtual Prayer Walk 
  • Resilient Youth Talking Circles
  • Virtual AIDS Walk Participation
  • Food programs expanded due to COVID-19
  • Implemented UberHealth Transportation 
  • 1,000 food boxes distributed in partnership with Hopi Relief
  • Verizon’s Native American People of Verizon donated thousands of toiletry items for community 
  • Continued expansion of virtual cultural classes 
  • Expansion food programs
  • NATIVE HEALTH  Mesa COVID vaccine stand-up clinic begins
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Mobilize AZ Public Health Case Management Program
  • Walter Murillo, NATIVE HEALTH CEO, testifies before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on COVID-19 impacts in Indian Country
  • At Home Garden Warriors Program begins
  • Positive Indian Parenting program begins
  • 250 Indigenous food boxes distributed
  • 400 holiday food boxes distributed 
  • Indigenous Cook Off
  • Virtual Open House
  • Drive thru Flu shots
  • Virtual Traditional Pageant 
  • 1,000 Native Talk Arizona podcast downloads in 6 months
  • NATIVE HEALTH’s Community Garden closes as Agave Farms is sold
  • Large toy giveaway by A.C. Green Foundation at NATIVE HEALTH Mesa
  • House Rules Committee Chairman, James McGovern, visits NATIVE HEALTH
  • Arizona@Work begins at NATIVE HEALTH Mesa
  • Over 120,000 meals distributed since COVID began
  • NATIVE HEALTH Central receives Silver Certification as an Adolescent Centered Environment
  • NATIVE HEALTH Central introduces partnership with Arizona State University’s students with “Helping Hands” concierge program. 
  • NATIVE HEALTH CEO, Walter Murillo, testifies before the House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States in support of H.R. 5221
  • Indigenous Kindergarten Math Scholars Program (funded by Piper Foundation)
  • Urban Native American Senior Food Box program kicks off
  • Indigenous Preschool and Kindergarten STEM Program 
  • 17,000 COVID vaccines distributed
  • Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility provides services at NATIVE HEALTH Central five days per week
  • Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Arizona@Work begins at NATIVE HEALTH Mesa

2022

  • Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Veterans Services begins at NATIVE HEALTH Central
  • Walk for the Land and the People Prayer Walk resumes 
  • Virtual Tea with the Tooth Fairy
  • Community Virtual Talking Circles begin Sundays 
  • DUI Classes begin
  • Read it and Eat resumes in person
  • NATIVE HEALTH’s 50/50 Raffle
  • Phoenix Children’s Hospital Breathmobile partners with NATIVE HEALTH
  • NATIVE HEALTH receives Gold Certification as an Adolescent Centered Environment
  • Received funds from Maricopa County to renovate NATIVE HEALTH Mesa to include expansion of dental, optometry, podiatry, pharmacy, and telehealth
  • HRSA Review
  • Community Legal Services begins at NATIVE HEALTH Central
  • Native Talk Arizona begins airing on KRDP 90.7 FM
  • NATIVE HEALTH launches Mobile Unit
  • NATIVE HEALTH receives HRSA Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Badge
  • CEO participated in White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

2023

  • 11,000 Native Talk Arizona downloads on Apple Podcasts, Google, and Spotify
  • Native Talk Arizona moves to KRDP 90.7 FM
  • 23,000 followers on Facebook
  • MPox vaccines available 
  • NATIVE HEALTH Mesa sign unveiling and NATIVE HEALTH Business Center (new name of plaza announced)
  • NATIVE HEALTH Mesa partnered with NFL Green with the Super Bowl Host Committee
  • Arizona@Work expands to NATIVE HEALTH Mesa on Tuesday mornings
  • Hosted Congressman Gallego’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples and Trafficking Roundtable
  • Worked with community, partners, and agencies on Sober Living Crisis
  • Visits with Congressman Stanton
  • Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) visit
  • Reaccreditation by Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
  • NATIVE HEALTH receives National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) Designation
  • NVRA formal presentation by Arizona Secretary Fontes and I.H.S. officials
  • Tweet (X) by Vice President Kamala Harris about NATIVE HEALTH NVRA Designation 
  • HHS Region 9 Director, Dr. Jeffrey Reynoso, visits NATIVE HEALTH
  • Congressman Stanton participates in NATIVE HEALTH’s Urban Senior Food Box Turkey Distribution
  • NATIVE HEALTH featured in Arizona Republic/AZ Central’s “Spanish Speaking Therapists, Therapists of Color are in Short Supply.” 
  • NATIVE HEALTH hosted ASU’s Indian Legal Program for Wills and Estates Q & A community presentations 
  • Purchased 8800 Building 
  •  
  • 2024
  • NATIVE HEALTH hosted the 1st Tooth Fairy Gala
  • NATIVE HEALTH hosted its Annual Prayer Walk and Breakfast with Blue Corn Mush and Wild Tea
  • NATIVE HEALTH hosted Dinner with the Docs, a program for Indigenous youth interested in health care careers. 
  • NATIVE HEALTH, in partnership with the American Indian Health AHEC, hosted Native SCOPE for Indigenous youth interested in health care careers
  • Congressman Stanton visits NATIVE HEALTH’s to view new dental equipment
  • Congressman Ruben Gallego hosted a ‘Cutting Costs for Arizona” Roundtable at NATIVE HEALTH
  • National Public Radio (NPR) covered NATIVE HEALTH’s National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) designation
  • Renovations begin at 8800 location
  • New expanded hours at the Mesa Food Pantry
  • NATIVE HEALTH’s artwork was featured in National Public Radio (NPR) post on the 100th Anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act
  • NATIVE HEALTH hosted Representative Stanton and Representative Davids at NATIVE HEALTH Mesa
  • NATIVE HEALTH Mesa expansion began with a Blessing and groundbreaking
  • Frybread for the Future events at NATIVE HEALTH Central and Mesa commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act and 76th anniversary of the Native Right to Vote in Arizona. 
  • Frybread for the Future Fest at Memorial Hall and Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center for National Voter Registration Day
  • NATIVE HEALTH’s CEO, Walter Murillo, was interviewed for Indian Country Today about voter registration and Social Determinants of Health
  • NATIVE HEALTH hosted the FBI, BIA, and the US Attorney’s Office for a Missing Person Identification Project (MPIP) for individuals missing from Maricopa and Pinal County
  • NATIVE HEALTH CEO attended President Biden’s address at the Gila River Indian Community
  • Congressman Stanton assisted at NATIVE HEALTH’s turkey distribution at NATIVE HEALTH Mesa
  • President Biden talked with NATIVE HEALTH’s Camille Holmes about the new commuter light rail located near NHW Community Health Center.
  • NATIVE HEALTH’s Native Talk Arizona had 17,000 downloads
  • NATIVE HEALTH hit 31,000 Facebook followers
  • NATIVE HEALTH began hosting Community Legal Services’ Tenant Eviction Assistance Program 
  • NATIVE HEALTH hosted AT Still University’s A Matter of Balance, fall prevention classes. 
  • NATIVE HEALTH hosted the Annual Indigenous Wellness Camp outside of Prescott. Over 80 youth attended this Camp. 
  • Began Food for Thought, in collaboration with University of Arizona’s College of Medicine, Culinary Medicine Program. 
  • NATIVE HEALTH WIC moved locations from PIMC to 4602 N. 16th Street in Phoenix. 
  • NATIVE HEALTH hosted two drive-thru flu shot events with Blue Corn Mush and Wild Tea. 
  • Over 7,000 attended NATIVE HEALTH’s Open House and Health Fair
  • NATIVE HEALTH distributed over 400 holiday turkeys