PERIDOT, Ariz. – In a historic effort to provide specialized mental health care to Native veterans and families, Home Base clinicians and support staff partnered with the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation (SCAHC) in February 2025 to deliver a mobile version of Home Base’s Native Intensive Clinical Programming. This first-of-its-kind initiative brought life-changing care directly to tribal veterans and families from the San Carlos Apache Tribe and other Native communities in the southwest United States.

This collaboration between Home Base, SCAHC, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe represents a critical step in reducing barriers to care and ensuring that Native veterans, who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at the highest rates per capita, receive the support they need in a culturally competent and accessible manner. The success of this program highlights the power of partnerships in expanding mental health services to underserved communities.

“This program is more than just bringing care closer to home—it’s about honoring the unique experiences of Native veterans and ensuring they feel seen, heard, and valued,” said Air Force veteran Marcus Denetdale (Diné), Regional Associate Director, Southwest & Tribal Relations at Home Base. “We are not just addressing mental health, we are reinforcing cultural identity and ensuring Native veterans can get care closer to home.”

Over the course of a week, a dedicated team of clinicians and support staff from Home Base provided care to nearly a dozen Native Veterans and their Family Members. The program’s proven clinical treatments respects traditional healing practices, ensuring a holistic approach tailored to the unique experiences of Native Veterans from the San Carlos Apache, White Mountain Apache, Navajo, and Sac & Fox of Oklahoma tribes.

Brigadier General (Ret.) Jack Hammond, Executive Director of Home Base, emphasized the significance of this initiative:

“The privilege of being welcomed onto tribal land by the clinic team and patients was profound,” said Hammond. “Witnessing veterans come together, support one another, and embrace their healing journey was both humbling and inspiring. This program is about more than treatment—it is about restoring hope, honoring service, and ensuring that every Native veteran receives the care they have rightfully earned. The trust placed in us by the Native community is deeply meaningful, and we are profoundly grateful to the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation for their steadfast partnership. It is an honor to stand alongside these courageous Veterans and their families on the path to healing.”

The success of this first-time program was made possible through the unwavering support of SCAHC and the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The dedication of these partners was instrumental in ensuring Native veterans received high-quality, culturally competent care within their own communities.

“The San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation’s mission has always been to heal, serve, and empower the Apache people,” said Victoria Began, CEO of SCAHC. “Our partnership with Home Base has allowed us to fulfill this promise to our veterans by providing critical mental health support right here in their own community. Most importantly, Home Base understands the importance of balance and harmony to our tribal patients by incorporating our veteran’s cultural identity into the treatment program. We appreciate the Home Base team who traveled to San Carlos and demonstrated respect for the Apache way of life by leading with Gozhoo (goodness, balance, and harmony).”

At the conclusion of this Intensive Clinical Program, all participants expressed their appreciation for the care they received. A participant survey revealed that Veterans felt a high level of trust in the clinicians and that the program helped them overcome barriers to seeking care.

One veteran Native participant shared, “I liked the sense of belonging in the community, the caring providers and whole staff and cultural awareness were the best part.”

As funding grows, Home Base and SCAHC are eager to expand this model, bringing even more veterans and families the healing they have earned and deserve. This successful partnership lays the groundwork for ongoing collaboration, ensuring that Native veterans continue to receive the specialized support they need. Together, we are committed to continuing this work and bringing vital mental health care to Native veterans where it is needed most.

About Home Base

Home Base is a national non-profit founded by the Boston Red Sox and Mass General Hospital.   Home Base is dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans, active-duty Service Members, Military-Connected Families and Families of the Fallen. Home Base leverages the incredible medical resources of the Mass General Brigham, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and the greater Harvard Medical School, to create innovative models of care. Since inception, Home Base has provided clinical care and support to more than 45,000 U.S. Veterans, Service Members and Families across the nation – all at no cost to them. For more information visit homebase.org.   As Home Base’s impact has grown, allied nations have increasingly turned to Home Base to learn about its innovative approach to providing healing and hope.

About San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation:

Izee’ Baa Gowah (House of Medicine), also known as the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation is a 638 Tribal Healthcare facility in San Carlos. The San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation aims to heal, serve, and empower the Ndee (Apache people) while honoring the traditions through compassionate and respectful patient-centered team. This world class care is offered through our outpatient clinic, 12-bed inpatient unit, emergency services, dental and over 20 specialty clinics to the San Carlos Apache community. For more information visit scahealth.org.