Yearlong study explores behavioral health care gaps and introduces a promising new care model
SANTA ANA, Calif., May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Zócalo Health, a community-based primary care provider dedicated to delivering culturally relevant care to underserved and underrepresented patients, today released a new outcomes paper, Healing Our Gente: Early outcomes from the community-anchored care model. The paper provides an unprecedented look at how recent social, economic, and policy pressures on Latino communities have created a behavioral health crisis. It also highlights early outcomes from an innovative Community-Anchored Care Model designed specifically for Medicaid populations.
The report comes at a moment when immigration enforcement actions, economic instability, and uncertainty surrounding Medicaid funding are contributing to increased stress for many Latino families. These pressures build on longstanding challenges that have negatively impacted access to behavioral health care.
Snapshot of a Community
Zócalo Health conducted a yearlong pilot program to assess and address behavioral health concerns in California's Central Valley and Central Coast. In these rural and semi-urban regions, Latinos make up over 60% of the population in core counties.
Key Findings:
- 72.6% reported one or more unmet social needs
- 1 in 4 screened positive for depression or anxiety
- ~82% initiated treatment after a positive screen
"The increase in positive screens for depression and anxiety over the last year are stunning. It is imperative that we rethink systems to deliver care in safe, easily accessible environments so that patients can get the help they need," said Zócalo Health CEO Erik Cardenas. "Our early data show that when care is delivered in trusting, culturally relevant spaces people are more willing to engage — which has important implications for Medicaid programs focused on equity, access, and long-term outcomes."
National data consistently show that Latino adults are less likely to receive behavioral health treatment than the general population, even when distress and impairment are present. When not sufficiently treated, depression and anxiety increase the total cost of care through downstream utilization: more emergency department visits, higher inpatient risk, and worsened management of chronic conditions. Behavioral health needs can interfere with medication adherence and self-management, particularly when members face material hardship and uncertain or inconsistent living conditions.
Community-Anchored Care Model Shows Early Promise
In response to what clinicians were seeing on the ground, Zócalo Health created and tested a care model built around bilingual clinicians, community health workers (Promotoras de Salud), and integrated behavioral health and social support. It was designed to reduce navigation burdens and improve continuity of care for better outcomes.
Among patients who initiated psychotherapy within the model:
- 68.9% attended two or more sessions — exceeding the 50% rate reported for Latinos in prior research and comparable to the 66% rate observed in the general population.
- 21.2% completed 3–4 sessions
- 38.8% completed 6 or more sessions
Members who sustained greater engagement experienced progressively greater symptom relief for every increase in adherence tier beyond the first visit.
"The pilot program demonstrates that engagement and outcomes improve when care reflects the realities of members' lives," said Sophia Pages, LMFT, Head of Behavioral Health at Zócalo Health. "These members showed up, trusted our teams, followed their care plans, and found relief."
For complete details on methodology, model design, and findings, please see the outcomes paper in its entirety here.
About Zócalo Health
Zócalo Health is dedicated to improving healthcare access for underserved communities. Our innovative virtual-first model pairs primary care providers with local community health workers, offering a holistic, culturally centered approach to care. We provide comprehensive care that meets members where they are. At Zócalo Health, we believe that healthcare should be accessible, equitable, and tailored to the needs of the communities we serve. Learn more at www.zocalo.health.
Media Contact
Amber Moore, Moore Communications, 1 5039439381, [email protected]
SOURCE Zócalo Health
Share this article