About Us: Juntos for Better Health is an Integrated Behavioral Health program within the City of Laredo Public Health Department. Juntos provides the community with educational and preventive services through mental and physical health assessments.

Counseling and Telepsychiatry:

Free therapy is available with counselors and psychiatrists. It is important to address all facets of health, including mental health. If you want to learn more about mental health, we invite you to health education classes at our Santa Rita Center. If you are ready to begin therapy, take the first step by calling to ask about registration.  

Location: 2600 Cedar Avenue

Schedule- 9:00am. – 5:00pm

For more information, availability, and registration please call (956) 236-4468 or (956) 523- 1389.

Support Groups:

Individuals with similar experiences can come together to share coping strategies. Join our group sessions if you are interested in learning therapeutic ways to address Depression or Anxiety.

For more information on schedules and location please call (956) 236-4468 or (956) 523- 1389.

Traveling Health Care Team: Our team visits various agencies, community centers, faith-based organizations, and community partners to offer basic health screenings. Our team consists of a Physician Assistant, Medical Assistant, Health Educator, and Caseworker. Our team does not shy away from unusual locations as we recognize that they serve as the doorway to reaching new patients. Basic checkups include:

• Blood pressure checks
• Pulse readings
• BMI screenings
• Mental health evaluations

Caseworkers are available to help the community connect to resources based on expressed need. If you do not have a medical home, we encourage you to register at the Cedar clinic. When you register with our program, we’ll help you get started on your health journey with free, initial lab work at the Cedar clinic.

Santa Rita R.E.C.H.A.R.G.E Center:

The City of Laredo Public Health Department is proud to announce the renaming of the Santa Rita Community Center to the "Laredo Public Health Recharge Center at Santa Rita." This strategic decision reflects the department's commitment to community public health and aims to better represent Laredo Public Health's presence in the region. The renaming is accompanied by a renewed vision that aligns with key principles integral to community well-being. The Laredo Public Health Recharge Center at Santa Rita embodies the following values:

Resilience: Encouraging personal and collective responsibility towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle and contributing to community well-being.

• Empowerment: Encouraging individuals and communities to take control of their health and well-being through education and access to resources.

• Collaboration: Fostering partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders to address public health issues collectively.

• Health Equity: Striving for fairness and justice in health, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to attain their highest level of health.

• Advocacy: Promoting and advocating for policies that improve public health outcomes and address social determinants of health.

• Responsibility: Encouraging personal and collective responsibility towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle and contributing to community well-being.

• Growth: Supporting continuous learning, innovation, and improvement in public health strategies and interventions.

• Engagement: Engaging with communities and stakeholders to ensure their active participation in decision-making processes and health-related initiatives.

Santa Rita has a variety of wonderful services for you! We offer Support Group Sessions once a week. If you want support from professionals, desire to develop your coping skills, address anxiety, learn about living with depression, and strengthen your relationships, work on forgiving, or let go of guilt- give us a call to find out when the next session is! Santa Rita also has a community garden. We invite you to come by and relax outdoors as you tend to the community garden. Feel free to take vegetation home as well as plant your seeds! Another service offered are Arts & Crafts for Mental Health sessions where community members can practice their creativity as a form of relaxation.

• Health Education classes are also offered at the Santa Rita Community Center. Topics include:
• Understanding, Living with, and coping with Anxiety
• Understanding, Living with, and coping with Depression.
• Hypertension
• Diabetes & Mental Health
• Obesity & Mental Health
• Benefits of consuming Fiber
• Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
• How to Build a Resume

Another Service offered at the center is Career Assistance/ Resume Building. If you are interested in attending a resume creation workshop or participating in a career path pre-screening, give us a call! Our desire is to offer a personalized experience, as we help individuals navigate through job possibilities.

You can use computers or connect to free WIFI any day of the week between 8:00am. – 5:00pm.

Location- 301 Castro Urdiales

Schedule- 8:00am. – 5:00pm.

Call: (956) 568-5958

Community Food Pantry: Our program houses a community pantry at Santa Rita and at the Cedar Clinic. The community is invited to take any food item they need as well as contribute to the pantry by donating non-perishable food items. The South Texas Food Bank gives out dispensas/ food distributions once a month, follow us on social media to find out this month’s date.