Please Contact Mr. Falcon with any questions you may have
Business/Organization: The University of Texas at El Paso Industry: Higher Education Primary Partner Contact: Yok Fong Paat Title/Position: Associate Professor Phone Number: 405-600-8449 Work Email: ypaat@utep.edu Website: Location(s): Harmony School of Innovation - El Paso Programs: Afterschool Programs , Character Education , Educational Programs , Health & Safety Programs , Mentorship Programs , College and Career Readiness Comment: Partnering in Healthy Families Healthy Kids Initiative
Yok-Fong Paat, PhD University of Texas at El Paso 500 W. University Ave El Paso, TX 79968 Phone: 915-747-5789 Email: ypaat@utep.edu
The need to access structured physical activities, nutritious food, preventive health care, and reliable health information is a growing critical concern for families and school-age children residing in the US-Mexico border region that is largely medically underserved and economically marginalized.
Goal 1: Increase families and school-age children's access to experiential learning and health education in El Paso County. Objectives: Develop culturally and linguistic competent educational and health materials for public dissemination; organize family friendly health promotion contests, family volunteering, family-centered structured enrichment and physical activities of varied modalities, nutrition and health literacy symposia, healthy living seminars, and child development workshops. Goal 2: Improve families and school-age children's access to preventive health services in El Paso County. Objectives: Offer preventive health assessments and resources; develop public outreach to increase publicity. Goal 3: Increase families and school-age children's access to sustainable systems/linkages of care in El Paso County. Objective: Establish partnerships with pediatric care providers, Title V MCH program providers, other health providers, and/or community based agencies.
This project has seven important activities that target the physical and nutritional needs of families and school-age children: 1) Treasure Chest of Knowledge, 2) Healthy Tomorrows Health Fair, 3) Family Health Awareness Month, 4) Family Fitness Day, 5) Nutrition and Health Literacy Symposium, 6) Healthy Living Seminars, and 7) Healthy Homes for Healthy Communities.
This project is a community based initiative of The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), working in collaboration and consultation with national, regional, and local health experts (including practitioners, scientists, and scholars), local health providers, community based agencies, and schools.
Project data will be collected to assess the needs of the target population and ensure efficient and successful implementation. Process and outcome evaluation of the project includes developing 1) survey tools to effectively assess changes in levels of awareness, knowledge, and satisfaction with the activities, and 2) a practical database to track activities, trainings, and events/activities that are offered each year, as well as the numbers and characteristics of participants.