Initiatives - Paso del Norte Health Foundation
The Foundation uses the term "Initiative" to communicate a health position or focus area integral to the long-term health improvements of the region. A list of our current initiatives along with their associated priority areas are provided below. Click on the individual initiative for more information.

PRIORITY AREAS

Encouraging Physical Activity and Balanced Nutrition
The ability to understand and take action to maintain physically active routines and balanced eating habits is integral to a healthy lifestyle.		 Building Capacity
To empower organizations and individuals to do more and to do it better. Develop assets and enable community members to design effective and appropriate strategies to improve health in the region.		 Promoting a Clean and Safe Environment
To assist area residents in recognizing and reducing environmental risks and the promotion of behavior change that will reduce exposure in their homes and surrounding areas.		 Reducing Risky Behaviors
Explore best practices and innovative interventions to educate people in the region on the dangers of engaging in risky behaviors.

INITIATIVES
To empower organizations and individuals to do more and to do it better. Develop assets and enable community members to design effective and appropriate strategies to improve health in the region. To assist area residents in recognizing and reducing environmental risks and the promotion of behavior change that will reduce exposure in their homes and surrounding areas. Explore best practices and innovative interventions to educate people in the region on the dangers of engaging in risky behaviors. A SMOKE FREE PASO DEL NORTE

The goal of a Smoke Free Paso del Norte is to reduce smoking rates in the region.

The ability to understand and take action to maintain physically active routines and balanced eating habits is integral to a healthy lifestyle. To empower organizations and individuals to do more and to do it better. Develop assets and enable community members to design effective and appropriate strategies to improve health in the region. Explore best practices and innovative interventions to educate people in the region on the dangers of engaging in risky behaviors. ACTION FOR YOUTH

Action for Youth (AY) is a six-year, grassroots initiative designed to build the capacity of communities to support youth and parents for the development of healthier youth.

The ability to understand and take action to maintain physically active routines and balanced eating habits is integral to a healthy lifestyle. To empower organizations and individuals to do more and to do it better. Develop assets and enable community members to design effective and appropriate strategies to improve health in the region. AGELESS HEALTH

The Ageless Health Initiative is designed to develop and expand programs and interventions to assist in the prevention of isolation and the promotion of independent living for the population ages 60 years of age and older of the Paso del Norte region.

The ability to understand and take action to maintain physically active routines and balanced eating habits is integral to a healthy lifestyle. To empower organizations and individuals to do more and to do it better. Develop assets and enable community members to design effective and appropriate strategies to improve health in the region. Explore best practices and innovative interventions to educate people in the region on the dangers of engaging in risky behaviors. BEGIN AT BIRTH

The purpose for this renewal of Begin at Birth is to effect long term improvements in the health status of children ages birth through three years of age within the Paso del Norte region by providing high quality parent education and promoting professionalism for parent educators.

HEALTH LITERACY

This initiative was developed to assist with the growing concern related to health literacy; health literacy is defined as the degree that individuals can obtain, process, and understand health information and services so as to make good health decisions.

The ability to understand and take action to maintain physically active routines and balanced eating habits is integral to a healthy lifestyle. To empower organizations and individuals to do more and to do it better. Develop assets and enable community members to design effective and appropriate strategies to improve health in the region. To assist area residents in recognizing and reducing environmental risks and the promotion of behavior change that will reduce exposure in their homes and surrounding areas. HEALTHY HOMES & HANDWASHING

The Healthy Homes & Handwashing Initiative is a five-year program designed to reduce environmental health risks such as asthma triggers, contaminated water and sanitation, lead, pesticides, uncontrolled solid waste dumping, and other risks to families in their indoor environments and adjacent and nearby residential properties.

MEDICAL STUDENT FUNDING

The Medical School Funding initiative is a grant/loan program that aims at improving the doctor/patient ratio in El Paso and its surrounding area.

The ability to understand and take action to maintain physically active routines and balanced eating habits is integral to a healthy lifestyle. To empower organizations and individuals to do more and to do it better. Develop assets and enable community members to design effective and appropriate strategies to improve health in the region. Explore best practices and innovative interventions to educate people in the region on the dangers of engaging in risky behaviors. SCHOOL-AGE HEALTH INITIATIVE

The School Age Health Initiative is designed to effect long-term improvements in the health status of children four to eleven years of age within the Paso del Norte region.

The ability to understand and take action to maintain physically active routines and balanced eating habits is integral to a healthy lifestyle. To empower organizations and individuals to do more and to do it better. Develop assets and enable community members to design effective and appropriate strategies to improve health in the region. STEP IT UP

Step It Up is designed to support physical activity programs that aim to decrease the sedentary lifestyle of adult individuals who are considering or actively making plans to exercise or start a physical activity program.

To empower organizations and individuals to do more and to do it better. Develop assets and enable community members to design effective and appropriate strategies to improve health in the region. Explore best practices and innovative interventions to educate people in the region on the dangers of engaging in risky behaviors. TWO SHOULD KNOW

Healthy Human Sexuality Initiative aimed at improving the sexual health of all people in the region.

Paso del Norte Health Foundation    1100 N. Stanton, Suite 510  El Paso, Texas  79902    Phone (915) 544-7636  Fax (915) 544-7713