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BOOST Members celebrate a successful year

December 13, 2023

Members of the BOOST Network gathered this month to celebrate the end of a successful year with some holiday spirit by wearing their “Ugly Sweater.”

The meeting marks the conclusion of the organization’s 2023 year. Members participated in a training session focusing on considerations for working with youth. The session highlighted preventive measures to divert justice involvement among youth, featuring insights from the El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department. 2023 BOOST Network achievements included:

  • Expanding to over 70 partners.
  • Receiving world-class training from Health Resources in Action.
  • Hosting a notable Spring into Summer Campaign to promote summer programming for youth.
  • Organizing two well-attended Kids Night Out events on both sides of the border.
  • Surpassing expectations with three Lights on After School events, featuring an appearance from “Little Amal.” The BOOST Network is a hub of out-of-school time (OST) providers that work together to identify, explore, and create opportunities that increase the quality and effectiveness of programs for youth and their families in west Texas, southern New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The BOOST Network is made possible with support from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation in partnership with United Way of El Paso County. A special thanks to all members of BOOST Network for their commitment throughout 2023. The collective efforts have made a significant impact on the families and youth of the region. Special appreciation for the generous donation of blankets, contributing to a warmer winter for families in need.

To learn more about The BOOST Network, visit theboostnetwork.org.

PDNHF Initiative: Healthy Kids

The goal of the Healthy Kids Initiative is to improve a range of health outcomes by engaging disconnected youth in the Paso del Norte region in high quality programs during out-of-school hours. The Health Foundation refers to “disconnected youth” as people between the ages of 5-17 who are not involved in out-of-school activities or not working, and “disconnected young adults” as people between the ages of 16-24 who are not in school and not working. Evidence indicates that youth who are involved in out-of-school programs are less likely to use drugs, alcohol, or be involved in criminal activity. Well-designed youth activities increase protective factors needed for youth to lead healthy and productive lives.

View Strategy Brief (English)

View Strategy Brief (Español)

Foundation Staff: Sandra Day

Additional Links

https://www.theboostnetwork.org/

Healthy Kids
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