From Our Team

Improving Mental Health Education for Future Healthcare Providers

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Sandra Day

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation is pleased to highlight the work of one of our trusted partners: the Paso Del Norte Children’s Development Center (PDN Children’s), a 75-year-old organization committed to enhancing mental health education for the region’s future healthcare providers – including specialists in speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, applied behavior analysis for eating therapy, and early childhood education. With funding from the Health Foundation, PDN Children’s has launched the Help Me Grow El Paso Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Workforce Capacity Project. This innovative program trains students in healthcare disciplines such as speech pathology, social work, psychology, and counseling, equipping them with the skills to work with children and young patients with disabilities.

Under the guidance of Dr. Camille Maldonado, Training Coordinator, the program trains a cohort of 10 students through three months of intensive curriculum and experiential learning. Students learn to recognize developmental milestones and signs of developmental delays, conduct screenings, and connect families to necessary services.

“Being a part of this program has meant so much to me, both personally and professionally. I leave with the knowledge of the importance of early intervention and many resources to provide my community with. I believe there is still so much we as professionals have to learn in order to provide the best services for our families and children,” said Edith Arreola, a UTEP Master of Social Work Student.

“We’ve seen a significant need in our community for professionals trained to work with families, specifically those with a child with a developmental disability,” said Laura Marquez, PDN Children’s Program Supervisor.

This program is a pilot of the national Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program, administered by the Maternal Child Health Programs at the federal level.

“With the support of the Health Foundation, we have been able to network with other local providers and support our patients with valuable resources for our community,” Marquez added. “I don’t know if it would be that way without the foundation.”

For more information on PDN Children’s, visit pdnchildrens.org. To learn about the Health Foundation, visit pdnhf.org.

Sandra Day

Sandra joined the Health Foundation in 2021. She manages the Healthy Kids and the Mental Health and Emotional Well-being Initiatives. She brings more than 10 years of experience in the public health sector working for nonprofit, as well as the federal government sector.

PDNHF Initiative: Mental Health & Emotional Well-Being

Develop, lead, and invest in partnerships, organizations, programs, and communications to promote emotional well-being, reduce stigma and negative bias, and improve access, ease of navigation, and continuity of care for mental and behavioral health services.

View Strategy Brief (English)

View Strategy Brief (Español)

Foundation Staff: Sandra Day