From Our Team

Practicing Acts of Random Kindness Brings Better Well-being to All

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Enrique Mata

Working in the health promotion and healthcare arenas, I’ve witnessed people perform some wonderful life changing, selfless acts. Nothing inspires me more than to see folks connecting with each other to build a better community. Altruism is defined as unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others, which is an important element for emotional well-being and quality of life. In fact, research shows that acts of kindness, generosity and compassion, can boost happiness in both the recipient and the person doing the good deed.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a…

Improving health for the past 20 years

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Jon Law

You may have noticed the mysterious blue “20” lighting the El Paso skyline on the Wells Fargo building at night. I’ll let you in on the secret – the “20” is in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation.

Have you heard of the Health Foundation? Do you remember Walk El Paso? Have you seen the commercials with former smokers, sitting on a blue coach, with dates above their heads? How about the mom in her car practicing what she’s going to say to her daughter about the new boyfriend? These are some of our projects.

The mission of the Paso del Norte…

School Health: We All Have a Role to Play

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Dr. Michael Kelly

From my days as an elementary school student, I recall the teacher’s counsel to eat a nutritious breakfast before a big test. Therefore, I can testify that at least as far back as the 1970s some teachers knew that nutrition was important for academic performance. Even today, my children are encouraged to eat a well-balanced breakfast before standardized tests. Likewise, conventional wisdom holds that kids of all ages need to burn-off energy during the school day and not simply sit still in their desk. I think teachers and parents alike can list many benefits of integrating nutritious meals…

Underage drinking is everyone’s problem

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Jana Renner

As the parent of a child transitioning to high school, I am both excited and holding my breath about the next four years. One of my primary concerns is alcohol – by far the most commonly used and abused substance among adolescents in the United States. Underage drinking has declined slightly over the past few years; however, 4300 young people under 21 are still losing their lives every year in this country because of alcohol use, and many more compromise their futures.

Most alarming is the fact that many adolescents are extreme binge drinking (10 or more drinks in one occasion)….

A One Stop Shop for Health Information In the region

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Bianca De León

The characteristics and statistics of a specific region are vital information to improve a population’s health. Yet, access to this information can be difficult to locate and often time consuming. This can be especially true when looking for health information of three states and two countries – Paso del Norte region.

The Healthy Paso del Norte website (www.healthypasodelnorte.org) brings non-biased data, local resources and a wealth of information to one accessible location. This user-friendly website is intended to help community members and policy makers learn about the health of the…

Talk with your kids about Healthy Relationships

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Bianca De León

Do you remember your first crush? The first time you held hands with that special someone? What about your first kiss? For most of us, these experiences were positive, maybe even romantic, and filled with newly discovered emotions as we explored this new phase of our sexuality. Adolescents and teens are beginning to explore those emotions in similar ways. It’s important for parents to understand this phase of their child’s development and find ways to communicate the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, especially with teen dating violence on the rise.

Teen dating…

Palcohol: the next frontier

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Jon Law

The TTB’s decision is not without controversy. Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, South Carolina and Vermont already have banned powdered alcohol and several other states are considering the same action. Supporters of banning the product are concerned with the potential use and misuse of Palcohol by youth. They argue that powdered alcohol is easily concealed and could be mixed with liquid alcohol, rather than water, to create a dangerous substance. David Jernigan, associate professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, explains: “we know that there is a certain set of young people…

Positive attitude = healthy outcomes

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Enrique Mata

Working with Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s Think.Change initiative, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of the vital role mental and emotional well-being plays in overall health. Building a society of acceptance and support includes practicing positive thinking, which contributes to better emotional health. I learned firsthand that each of us plays a role in reducing the negative bias associated with mental and emotional illness.

In 2006, my brother was diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer at 39 years of age and went through more than a year of treatment and surgeries….

Recess - the 4th R

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Dr. Michael Kelly

Elementary school children benefit from free play and having breaks from sitting in a classroom. Unfortunately, not all children in grades kindergarten to 5th have adequate daily recess.

Children who misbehave at school may be punished by having recess denied, despite the fact that this is usually against school policy. Other children may be deprived of recess to attend tutoring or make-up exams after being out sick, which may also be against policy. Based on the existing literature, however, recess is beneficial for both social and academic performance and should not be withheld for any…

Things Happening in February

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Jon Law

Another Step Closer to a Smoke Free Paso del Norte …

Big props to The Housing Authority for the City of El Paso (HACEP) and its leadership for planning to takepublic housing smoke free. Holly Mata (UTEP) and her team from the Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center conducted a survey of HACEP residents and found that more than 40% of residents smell secondhand smoke in their units. The policy shift will also protect HACEP’s physical property as the housing authority undergoes a major renovation of its units.

Interested in Texas Demographics?

Consider attending the Texas…