The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, School of Public Health (UTSPH); The Texas Tech University Health Science Center-Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (TTUHSC-PLFSOM); and the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PdNHF) have established a four-institutional partnership to implement an Institute designed to serve as a widely recognized mode
l, in and beyond the U.S., for promoting healthy eating and active living; advocating for effective programs and public policies; and leading action for improved nutrition and physical activity in the Paso del Norte region. The purpose of the Institute is to advance healthy eating and active living by leading effective and sustainable mixed strategy solutions by coordinating with the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, regional organizations, and unifying multidisciplinary expertise and resources of the three regional partner universities. The Institute, facilitated by the partner institutions, leads community/regional efforts for improving healthy eating and active living among the Paso del Norte region’s residents, especially children and youth. The Institute leadership is shepherded by an executive committee of experienced and nationally recognized university partners with a commitment to creating and sustaining effective partnership teams across multiple sectors focused on adapting, disseminating, and implementing evidence-based practices to meet local needs. The partner Universities and Foundation recognize the critical need to combat the obesity epidemic faced by the young people of the nation and particularly of the U.S.-Mexico border region. To address this, the Institute uses a socio-ecological model to promote meaningful change in nutrition and physical activity in the Paso del Norte region. The various faculty and staff of the Institute, therefore, will lead activity to promote individual level change to broad community-wide policy change. The partnership is committed to meaningful community engagement – an often complex yet powerful vehicle for ensuring sustainability and change. The region has many community assets that can help achieve economies of scale, scope, and learning.
