Last year's meeting was attended by 160 people, with proceeds going to its Jump For Literacy campaign.

"We are expecting at least the same number to attend," Executive Director Ralph Varela said from behind his desk at his Eloy office, surrounded by drawings his two daughters have made for him over the years. "The proceeds go to the Eloy Police Explorers and the Santa Cruz Valley Food Bank, so they can use the money to benefit the community's needs."

Last year they raised $2,700.

The biggest perception over the last 15 years is "accepting the importance of treatment services and advocacy that our agency provides," he said. They normally service about 800 individuals annually. He thinks their efforts in prevention services reach another 500 individuals.

Varela said it is difficult to select which single program has had the most impact, but some of the programs that have had significant impact include the domestic violence grant in collaboration with the city of Eloy, where they have one state and two federal grants with the city; another two drug-free communities grants because they deal with youth; the current recovery community support program, which helps mobilize individuals in recovery drug in-service in Eloy, Coolidge and Casa Grande; and a counseling service in the Palo Verde Elementary School along with providing treatment service in Florence, Arizona City and Picacho.

"The things I found rewarding over the years is the professional growth of the staff, the guidance of the board of directors, the opportunity for my professional growth and a strong relationship with all our collaborators," Varela said. The 15-year relationship with Eloy Governor's Alliance Against Drugs, for which they are the fiscal agents, "has been beautiful."

Varela thinks EGAAD is one of the strongest coalitions in the state. They have held Red Ribbon Week every year and are in the process of running the second Jump For Literacy campaign.

They are working with the county attorney and PGBHA on a methamphetamine conference for April of this year, he said.

"We are recognized at state and federal levels for our innovative programs."

Elizabeth Flores, deputy executive director, is the only employee who has served with Varela for the entire 15 years. She said they have increased services with the many grants they have received over the years. The biggest expansion has been in the outpatient service in children services.

"In servicing children, we have received a positive outcome," Flores said. She has seen them grow from youths into teens and adults.

Varela said every year they provide community donations in support of youth activities for western Pinal County.

They try to see that their programs are culturally competent, that they are able to provide services that are linguistically appropriate and that they have staff who are bilingual and bicultural, he said.

PHC is governed by a seven-member board. Three board members - Marie A. Lorona, Mary Lou Rosales and Lily Rodriguez - have been around since the council incorporated. Current board President Richard Carino has served 11 years.

Perhaps the biggest future goal for PHC is to build another building in Eloy which would bring all the social services together. Varela said they are working with Community Action Human Resources Agency on this project.

Carino, who was a Big Brother for PHC before joining the board, would like to see them go from renters to office owners.

One of his major concerns is how the growth will mesh with the existing residents. He thinks PHC could be the one to help each segment of the population.

Flores said children services is an area where she would like to see them continue to expand.

They have some new things they are working on, Varela said. They plan to build four additional housing units for individuals undergoing mental health issues.

He said they have received a grant from the governor's office to focus on an immigrant domestic violence project. They are working with the County Attorney's Office to provide treatment services for their family advocacy center.

Other goals include establishing a DU treatment program, but their biggest goal is a mentally ill day treatment program, which would be part life skill, part group treatment and part life support services.

Carino and Rosales both would like to see PHC tackle the meth issues plaguing western Pinal County communities. They are working on a federal grant to deal with the meth problem in the way of treatment services, Varela said.

Varela said PHC started in 1979 as a grass roots organization dealing with politics, prevention, behavior and youth issues. They received their first grant to provide prevention services in 1987.

Rosales said when starting PHC, they saw a need for counseling services; there weren't any organizations catering to the Hispanic population. She wanted to do something to help, so she became a board member.

With four employees they began to provide outpatient services in Eloy in 1990, and in Coolidge in 1991. At the time, they received one grant from the Governor's Office and they had two funding sources. One was from Pinal Gila Behavioral Health Agency.

Varela laughed as he recalled the $131,000 budget they had the first year. "At that time, we thought it was not enough.

"We've been vagabonds," Varela said. The first office was a small space next to the Justice of the Peace Precinct III, then they went next door to Sunstate Bank, then they went into the building currently being occupied by CAHRA before taking up residence at the Mahoney building on Sixth and Main streets, then moving their headquarters to The Eloy Enterprise Building six years ago.

Now with 33 employees and a budget right at $3 million, with their major funding source being PGBHA, they have four offices, Centro de Ayuda, Eloy; Centro de Unidad, Coolidge; Centro de Familias, Eloy, and Centro de Conocimiento, Casa Grande. They own the Mahoney building and their Coolidge office. They operate 11 grants from the governor's office and six federal grants; they have increased their stakeholders and collaboration.

Varela said in 1995 they were recognized by Gov. Fife Symington's office for rural community excellence. They have been recognized by Drug Strategy Inc. for their community mobilization efforts alongside EGAAD.