Miguel Flores Jr., LISAC,CSOTS

Chief Executive Office

Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor, Arizona

Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist

Acu-Detox Certified

 

I am a proud member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Tohono O’odham Nation, husband, father, artist, healer, counselor and teacher.

 

For the past 28 years, I have provided Spiritual Leadership and Traditional Medicine for the Tohono O’odham and Yaqui. I have a 34 year career in behavioral health providing services for The People, particularly youth. As the CEO and owner of my own business, Holistic Wellness Counseling & Consultant Services, I am able to coordinate a team of traditional healers, acupuncturist, counselors and artists.

 

Our goal is to assist Native American and Latino men, women and youth in developing healthy and holistic lifestyles by achieving harmony and balance in areas of:

 

Mental Health - healthy self-esteem, communication with self, Creator, and others, and joy in living

 

Physical Health - developing life-long healthy habits including healthy and more traditional eating and exercise patterns, and disease prevention

 

Spiritual Health – grateful hearts, appreciation of creation, respect for self and others, learning about their tribal/ethnic culture, history, and ceremonies, and self-expression through art and music, and healthy laughter

 

Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Chronic Illness: My philosophy is that youth join gangs and /or use drugs or adapt problem behaviors for similar reasons: self-acceptance, safety, and belonging. For Native youth, it is particularly important to address these issues in a culturally relevant way. I believe that once youth come to an understanding of who they are culturally, spiritually, mentally, and physically, they will develop a positive self-image, appreciate their identity, and find a vision of their life’s journey. That leads to making better decisions about their lives. Someone who does not respect him/herself is not likely to respect others or plan for a productive future. It is with this positive approach that I hope to help youth prevent STDS and chronic illness, respect themselves and their bodies, and regard all living things as sacred.

 

Focus – Prevention and intervention for clients with problems or potential problems in such areas as: substance abuse, mental health, cultural and personal identity, relationships, prevention of STDs, self-esteem, anger management and healthy expression of emotions, love of education, motivation to work, and healthy living as a way of life.

 

Currently, We provide prevention, behavioral health, and traditional services for the Tucson Area Office Behavioral Health Program, the Desert Visions Youth Regional Treatment Center in Sacaton, Arizona, and the Division of Behavioral Health, Tohono O’odham Nation.

 

It is an honor to work with Carlos Gonzales, M.D. (Yaqui) at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine. We provide a biannual cultural diversity and educational experience for incoming medical students. The goal of the event is to provide participants with information about alternative medicine and cultural healing to address chronic illnesses. We try to open eyes to cultural diversity so that these future physicians will be more aware and respectful when treating multi-cultural patients.

 

I also collaborate with Arizona State University - School of Social Work providing consultation for graduate social work students who are interested in learning a holistic approach to healing and wellness (Mind, Body, and Spirit).

 

Networking & Boards

 

• Community Advisory Board, University of Arizona/Northern Arizona University/Dine College, Center for American Indian Resilience (CAIR)

 

  Chairman for American Indian Research Center for Health (AIRCH), University of Arizona

 

• Chairman for Arizona Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP), Community Action Committee, Outreach Core

 

• Chairman for Tohono O’odham Caner Partnership

 

• Co-Chair for Diverse Voices in Prevention (DVIP), Pima County Community Prevention Coalition

 

• Member of the Amistades Substance Abuse Coalition

 

• Representative for Southern Arizona Tribes for the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention Tribal Well-being Convening’s

 

• Faculty, Native American Public Health into Medicine Course, University of Arizona

 

• Faculty, NACP Cross Cultural Training Curriculum, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University

 

• Faculty, NARTC American Indian Research Center for Health, University of Arizona

 

• Participant Engagement Board Member, All of Us, Precision Medicine Initiative

 

• All Of Us Native American Community Advisory Committee,

University of Arizona

 

Ambassador, All of Us National Program, National Institute of Health

 

Member Bio-Specimen Policy Task Force, National Institute of Health

 

Member AOU Research Access Board, National Institute of Health

 

• Involving Native Stakeholders in Pain Research Efforts (INSPIRE) Steering Committee Member,

Northern Arizona University

 

• Active member of the Tohono O’odham Community Suicide Prevention Network

 

• Provide consultation for the Sells Service Unit / Tohono O’odham Nation monthly 

Child Team Meeting that includes healthcare professionals from a variety of agencies and schools.

 

• Provide individual, family, couples’ and group psychotherapy for youth and adults with a focus on wellness, trauma & loss, sobriety, suicide prevention, and living with chronic pain.

 

• Conduct assessments and provide counseling and prevention services for the Pediatric Developmental Clinics, Sells Service Unit and San Xavier Clinic

 

• Develop and provide activities for youth including campouts, movies, cultural/spiritual ceremonies, arts & crafts, sports, and entertainment. The focus is a holistic approach to developing a lifestyle of fun, work, and wellness to prevent substance abuse, behavioral health problems, STDs, and chronic illness and to promote physical and spiritual wellness.

 

• Create and coordinate Mural projects: Sells Service Unit Hospital and Clinics (to promote a sense of pride, cultural identity, and comfort to patients with chronic and debilitating physical disorders such as diabetes); Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind and Sells Juvenile Detention Center. The Murals are designed and painted by the youth themselves with on-going oversight. The sessions provide team-building skills, inter-personal communication skills, and cultural/spiritual insights to support healthy, sober lifestyles.