Promoting Healthy Families

Being healthy involves the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. For this reason, Azusa residents need access to resources that address each of these areas. Learn more about what the city of Azusa offers.

Community Counseling Centers

The Community Counseling Centers (CCCs) are Christian-based services that provide counseling and assessment services at a low cost to Azusa and the surrounding communities. The CCCs offer center-based counseling and school-based counseling. Center-based counseling focuses on clients who need therapy for personal issues. School-based counseling offers services to students who are academically at-risk due to mental health issues. The CCCs serve more than 300 families and 250 adults each month from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including African-American, Chinese, European, and Hispanic. The CCCs also provide training for clinical psychology students. Appointments are available Monday-Saturday. To schedule an appointment or obtain further information, please call (626) 815-5421.

East San Gabriel Coalition for the Homeless

Winter Shelter Program – Mobile Health Services APU School of Nursing has been working in partnership with the East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless since 1997 to bring health care to homeless clients of the coalition’s Winter Shelter Program. The coalition operates the shelter program within selected churches throughout the East San Gabriel Valley during the months of December through March each year. Faculty and students of the School of Nursing bring health services on a weekly basis. Those in need are provided a health assessment and treatment for minor acute health problems. Nurses also provide a referral service for clients with more urgent or complex health problems, health education, and some preventive care services. Up to 170 homeless persons may be housed within a church per night. For more information, contact Connie Brehm, PhD, FNP, RN, at [email protected] or (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5431.

Gateway Ministry

Gateway Ministry enables APU women to reach out to teenage mothers by serving as counselors, tutors, and friends. Activities include making crafts and having a baby shower during the fall semester. For more information, contact the Spiritual Life at (626) 815-3855.

Neighborhood Wellness Center

The Neighborhood Wellness Center (NWC) opened its doors in September 1998, and emerged as a joint effort between the city of Azusa and Azusa Pacific University’s School of Nursing to provide health education and care to more than 43,000 Azusa residents. The center promotes healthy living among the local community through free seminars, referrals, screenings, and assessments, as well as sponsors a women’s health fair with the American Cancer Society.

For those Azusa residents unable to visit the NWC, the center holds clinics in community residential areas. The center is open Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. For further information, please contact Julia Pusztai, MN, RNC, at [email protected] or call (626) 812-5191.

Project ACHIEVE Health Clinic – El Monte

APU’s School of Nursing operates a health clinic within the offices of Project ACHIEVE in El Monte. Project ACHIEVE is a comprehensive case management agency that assists the homeless to find housing and live independently. The faculty and students of APU School of Nursing operate a clinic two half’days per week to provide clients with a complete health assessment, first aid care, and treatment for minor acute health problems. Nurses also provide a referral service for clients with more urgent or complex health problems. Health education and some preventive care services are offered as well. Nurses work interdependently with the case managers of Project ACHIEVE to assist clients in meeting their housing and independent living goals.