From Our Team
The Paso del Norte Center at the Meadows Institute: A Commitment to Mental Health Care in Our Region
Posted on July 20, 2021 by Tracy J. Yellen
Mental illness has traditionally been treated – when treated at all – in piecemeal fashion, and too often not until after a crisis event has occurred. Waiting to provide care until after a crisis means the first attempt at treatment occurs after the illness has already reached an advanced stage. Just like with cancer and heart disease, early detection and intervention are key to the best possible outcomes, so a primary challenge is changing the delivery of health care to reflect this reality.
For most of the past decade, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation has been working – in…
Foundations release their 2020 Annual Reports
Posted on June 7, 2021 by Tracy J. Yellen
Endurance • Resilience • Community “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” – Lady Bird Johnson
The boards and staff of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Fundación Paso del Norte are pleased to announce the release of their 2020 Annual Reports.
Like a cactus in the desert, 2020 underscored our collective ability to face difficult circumstances with dignity, grace, and hope. We came together as a Community of Philanthropy with a combined $35.5 million in grants and charitable projects in 2020 and $255.3 million since 1995 to respond,…
Help your kids ease back into schooling with out-of-school programs
Posted on May 18, 2021 by Bianca De León
If you think back on your childhood, chances are there was that one afterschool or summer program that was formative in your life. Maybe it helped you build your self-esteem, pick up new skills, or build a network of friends and mentors that stuck with you throughout your childhood.
For me growing up, it was more than 10 years of ballet folklorico. Perhaps you were a Brownie or a Boy Scout, belonged to a Boys & Girls Club, or attended summer science camp. If so, your life was also touched by an out-of-school time (OST) program, and you can appreciate why the BOOST Network exists in our…
Get out, get active and enjoy the outdoors on Celebrate Trails Day
Posted on April 19, 2021 by Jana Renner
Spring has sprung here in the Borderland. What better way to enjoy some sunshine than getting out and walking, biking or hiking some of the beautiful trails that the region has to offer?
Celebrate Trails Day celebrates all the incredible health and mental wellness benefits that trails provide which include recreation, education, exposure to flora and fauna, wildlife and preservation.
The Paso del Norte Trail will host Celebrate Trails Day on April 24 at 9 a.m. at the Playa Drain Trail to encourage the community to discover some of the benefits that the trail has to offer…
Take Time for Home Cooking to Celebrate National Nutrition Month
Posted on March 23, 2021 by Jana Renner
March is National Nutrition Month, so it’s a perfect time to talk about some of the things the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and its partners are doing to improve the health of our community.
The Health Foundation’s Healthy Living priority area supports a variety of programs throughout the Paso del Norte region which provide educational and promotional programs, such as nutrition and cooking classes, that influence behavior in selecting, preparing, cooking, and eating healthy foods.
La Semilla Food Center is a nonprofit organization that operates in El Paso and southern New Mexico…
Promotoras helping to Reduce the Risk in El Paso County’s most isolated, vulnerable populations
Posted on February 17, 2021 by Dr. Michael Kelly
By Pema Garcia, Regional Director for the Texas A&M Colonias Program & Dr. Michael Kelly, Vice President, Programs, Paso del Norte Health Foundation
Nearly a year has passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in our region. We have all experienced multiple challenges in this time but have come together to help the residents of our region – including the most vulnerable - “Reduce the Risk” by providing timely and accurate information regarding COVID-19 health and safety, mental health and well-being, and financial and social services.
The Texas A&M Colonias Program, which has…
Strategic Plan 2025: Our Guide to the Future
Posted on January 26, 2021 by Tracy J. Yellen
A strategic plan is an invaluable navigation tool to help organizations make strategic decisions and guide their way.
Through crises – like the tragic shooting of August 3rd and COVID-19 pandemic – and the day-to-day - the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, Paso del Norte Health Foundation, and Fundación Paso del Norte have used our strategic plan to advance our core work while responding to the immediate needs of the community. We are proud of the relevance of our missions and agility and impact of our organizations.
With continued adaptability and the future in mind, the boards…
Reduce the Risk at Holiday Gatherings
Posted on November 30, 2020 by Dr. Michael Kelly
This holiday season will be like none other El Paso County has ever experienced. Many of us miss friends and families. The holidays present a tempting and traditional opportunity to gather, make new memories, and celebrate. This year, it’s not advised to gather with friends or family who don’t live with you.
It’s tough. But we have to stay strong, healthy, and most importantly, unified for our vulnerable family members and friends.
Members of the El Paso United COVID-19 Transition Task Force recognize that El Paso’s healthcare workers are fighting laboriously on the frontlines of…
Sabrosa Vida program empowering El Pasoans to live and eat deliciously healthy
Posted on November 23, 2020 by Jana Renner
November is the beginning of the holiday season and that means not only a time for giving thanks and giving gifts, it’s also a time when we enjoy some of our favorite foods and desserts. And while many of us will be celebrating the holidays apart from our extended families this year, or perhaps alone, many will also be looking for those comfort foods to at least remind us of a time before COVID-19.
But, if you’re like many El Pasoans who suffer from diabetes, obesity or other health risks, you may feel like you are forced to choose between enjoying delicious holiday meals or sticking to…
Collaboration is integral to improving health
Posted on October 9, 2020 by Enrique Mata
COVID-19 is challenging the region’s partners to unite, adapt, and maximize resources. The good news is that since 2014, El Paso County leaders, champions and advocates from all sectors, have been communicating, coordinating and collaborating to provide timely mental health and addiction treatment and support services for individuals and families in need.
On Oct. 14, members of the El Paso Behavioral Consortium will convene in a virtual environment for the 6th Annual Consortium Progress Summit. This public event will showcase the work being done to improve the mental health and…
