Zócalo Health, an integrated mental health and primary care provider focused on treating Latino patients, raised $22.7 million in fresh capital, according to public records.
The startup focuses on whole-person care and offers medical care, mental health support, social program navigation and housing support. Its care team includes bilingual promotoras de salud, which translates to “health promoters,” community health workers, physical therapists and physicians.
“Zócalo Health is what we describe as a tech-enabled, community-oriented primary care organization that historically has served Latino communities and other underserved populations,” Erik Cárdenas, CEO and co-founder of Zócalo Health, told Behavioral Health Business in a recent podcast. “Now, as we’ve grown, what we typically do is we partner with Medicaid and managed care organizations to deliver an integrated primary care experience. We like to focus on addressing the fact that health care for a lot of people is fragmented. We wanted to create an experience that integrated primary care, behavioral health, and one that was really intentional about addressing the unmet social needs.”
BHB reached out to Zócalo Health for comment but did not receive a response by publication.
The hybrid provider was founded in 2021 and now operates in Washington, California and Texas. Cárdenas previously told BHB the provider plans to expand its operations to Maryland, New York and Washington, D.C. in 2026.
Zócalo Health’s focus on the Latino community has taken on added urgency as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have disproportionately affected the community, leading some patients to cancel or skip appointments.
“Clinical need is rising, but the utilization is becoming less stable,” Cárdenas previously told BHB. “So, while we work really hard to create more capacity, the sad reality is what we’re seeing is that it’s not just the cancellations or the no-shows. We’re recognizing that people are just prioritizing safety over care.”
Zócalo Health isn’t the only provider in the behavioral health sector created to offer culturally competent care for a specific patient demographic. For example, Anise Behavioral Health is a provider focused on caring for Asian Americans and has raised more than $3 million in funding. Additionally, ReKlame Health provides virtual-first psychiatric care, addiction care and care coordination for communities of color.
There has also been some M&A activity in the sector. In 2023, Backpack Health acquired Hurdle Health, a provider focused on delivering culturally competent care to people of color and underserved populations.
