Welcome to the latest AHEC Newsletter with valuable health and education information! | | | | | | Welcome to the Fall 2024 South Texas AHEC Newsletter | | | Recent Successes | Future Events | Learning Opportunities | Health News | | | Recent Successes Follow South Texas AHEC on Facebook @STAHEC | | Follow Southwest Border AHEC on Facebook @SWBAHEC Back to School Drive – Driscoll Health Plan In collaboration with Driscoll Health Plan and numerous other community organizations, Southwest Border AHEC helped prepare the students of Eagle Pass ISD for the Fall 2024 semester by providing them with various school supply items. Through this event, we were able to provide students with a jump start to the semester The event was held on July 18, 2024, from 9:00 am – 11:00 am at the ICT in Eagle Pass, Texas. Teen Battle Chef – DSHS In collaboration with the Texas Department of State Health Services, Southwest Border AHEC helped to organize the Teen Battle Chef (TBC) program for eligible high school students in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Teen Battle Chef program is a hands-on culinary skills and nutrition education program that seeks to helps students learn about nutrition, proper sanitation & hygiene, the value of teamwork, food presentation, palate development, and goal setting. The activities ran from July through August. SWB AHEC First Aid Summer Camp The Southwest Border AHEC’s First Aid Summer Camp ran from August 5- August 9 and was held at Southwest Texas College. The camp was designed for students who wanted to learn essential first-aid techniques in a fun and engaging environment. Through hands-on activities and interactive lessons, over 30 students gained valuable knowledge in stress management, burn and wound care, first-aid choking protocols, and received hands-only CPR certification. Back to School Event - El Consulado de Mexico On August 6, 2024, in collaboration with El Consulado de Mexico, Southwest Border AHEC helped prepare the Eagle Pass ISD students for the upcoming Fall 2024 semester by providing them with various school supplies. Through this event, we were able to give students a jump-start to the semester as well as to ease some of the financial stress on parents. Kickapoo Health Fair On August 8, 2024, SWB AHEC participated in the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas community health fair. The event featured free health screenings provided by Southwest Border AHEC, informative workshops, and cultural activities. This was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the Kickapoo tribe and embrace a holistic approach to health in a supportive community setting. UMC Health Fair On August 15, 2024, Southwest Border AHEC participated at the UMC Health Fair, which was held at the Eagle Pass Civic Center. The free community event offered a wealth of resources, including health screenings provided by Southwest Border AHEC, fitness demonstrations, and wellness workshops. Local healthcare providers were also on hand to offer valuable health advice, while families enjoyed interactive activities and learned about healthy living. Summer 2024 CHW Course We are excited to announce Southwest Border AHEC completed its Summer CHW Course on August 26, 2024. The course was held via Zoom and provided participants with the tools needed to increase the health knowledge and self-sufficiency of the clients and communities they serve. | | | Follow South Central AHEC on Facebook @SouthCentralTexasAHEC Annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Picnic Celebrate Grandparent's Day with TXGRG! Our Annual Grand Family Picnic is a fun-filled event designed especially for grandparents and their grandkids. This free event offered lunch, games, inflatables, cold treats, and so much more! We are thrilled to share that this year's picnic was a tremendous success. We had the pleasure of handing out valuable health information to many families, and our booth featured an exciting spinning wheel where both kids and adults could win fantastic prizes. It was a joy to see families coming together and having a great time. A huge thank you to TXGRG for making this celebration possible! For more information contact: Ludivina Hernandez at HernandezLV@uthscsa.edu Back to school Health and Wellness Fair On August 8th, UT Health SA's Front Porch Series presented the Back to School Health and Wellness Fair. The event took place from 10 AM to 1 PM at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church, located at 1730 Dahlgreen Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78237. This free event featured a Q&A session with a doctor and psychologist, a school supply raffle, and fun activities for kids with prizes. The event was a great success! Families participated in chair yoga, and the San Antonio A&M dance team made a special appearance. The Q&A with Dr. Tsevat and Dr. Kilpela went exceptionally well, and it was wonderful to see so many families and organizations come together to kickstart the school year with health and wellness resources. For more information, please email loerat@uthscsa.edu. Overcoming The Mental Health Stigma On September 10th, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Patricia Burns for an insightful presentation on "Overcoming the Mental Health Stigma". Her expertise and thoughtful discussion provided attendees with valuable information on how to break down barriers surrounding mental health in our community. This event was part of our monthly "Chat at the Quiosco" series, held at our West Side office located at The Neighborhood Place. These monthly sessions give us the opportunity to engage directly with community members and offer important resources at the local community center. One unique aspect of our series is that the topics are chosen by the participants themselves, ensuring that we address the most relevant and pressing issues. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Burns for sharing her knowledge, and we're thrilled with the turnout from the community. A big thank you to everyone who joined us for this event and contributed to such a meaningful discussion! We look forward to continuing to connect with and support our community in future sessions. For more information, contact Ludivina Hernandez at HernandezLV@uthscsa.edu | | Follow South Coastal AHEC on Facebook @SouthCoastalAHEC.CC Seashore Sports Physicals In partnership with Commissioner Brent Chesney, South Coastal AHEC hosted the last sports physical of the season at Seashore Middle School. We saw over 100 kids and were able to prepare them for the school year, which started the following day. For more info contact Melissa Flores at (361) 881-8133 Operation Health & Wellness From July 22nd to July 27th South Coastal AHEC shut down the office and focused on serving the community through Operation Health & Wellness. This is a week-long health clinic where people can receive various services at no cost. These services included medical exams, school physicals, vision exams, vouchers for frames, A1C checks, diabetes education, vaccines, and pet services too! This mission is typically carried out in partnership with the military. However, this year they were unable to attend. It is only through the partnerships of various local organizations that this mission was so successful. For more information contact Belinda Flores at 361-881-8133 South Coastal AHEC Interns Over the course of the summer, South Coastal AHEC accepted two practicum students from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Both students majored in Health Care Administration. During their stay with us, each one was given a project. Quetzaly was tasked with redesigning the AHEC website. She did an outstanding job creating a website that is appealing and functional to users. She was also an amazing asset to the team and volunteered at our various health fairs and at Operation Health & Wellness. Andres was tasked with focusing on Operation Health & Wellness. He mapped out bus schedules for the community, created flyers, social media posts, and demonstrated leadership qualities during planning meetings. On August 9th, they presented their projects to a group of their peers. Both students presented great projects and exceeded expectations. For more information contact Belinda Flores at 361-881-8133 Raul's 45th Anniversary Celebration Raul Hernandez has been teaching Advanced Cardiac Life Support for South Coastal AHEC for 45 years. He has been a pioneer in his field. He has been teaching ACLS since the first class began in 1999 and has not stopped. He also created the first Spanish translation of the ACLS course. South Coastal AHEC is honored to have him on our team. For more info contact Belinda Flores at 361-881-8133 Nueces County Commissioners Court On August 21, 2024,, Belinda Flores presented the data collected from Operation Health & Wellness at Nueces County Commissioners Court. The twenty five community organizations that came together to make this happen were recognized for their commitment to the community. Operation Health and Wellness provided over 1700 services to the community For more information, contact: Belinda Flores at 361-881-8133. | | Follow Lower Rio Grande Valley AHEC on Facebook at @lrgv.ahec Diabetes Awareness and Prevention LRGV AHEC supporting Unidos Contra la Diabetes (UCD) efforts to create awareness in the prevention of type 2 diabetes in the Rio Grande Valley. Healthy eating and exercise lessons were shared at the Irma Cantu Community Center in Lasara, TX. Roots of Resilience Project Kashish Kumar, student at Columbia University, in partnership with LRGV AHEC and funding received through Projects for Peace, conducted a public health research project and produced a documentary on agricultural migrants from the Rio Grande Valley. The public health research, The Roots of Resilience Project, aims to address the significant health challenges faced by agricultural migrants in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) due to exposure to hazardous chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. By working closely with the agricultural migrant community, the project aims to enhance access to health resources, raise awareness, and foster a sense of empowerment among these marginalized groups (Kumar, K. Abstract of "Roots of Resilience Project LRGV AHEC Partnership." May 2024) For more information contact Juana Escareño at escareno@uthscsa.edu Adolescent Vaping in the Rio Grande Valley Nathan Serna, student at Baylor University, Master of Public Health Program in collaboration with LRGV AHEC hosted Spanish and English Community Health Worker (CHW) focus groups to discuss the public health issue of adolescent vaping and e-cigarettes. For more information contact Juana Escareño at escareno@uthscsa.edu Introdución a Coordinación de Servicios Reunión de Red de Promotoras/es en Cameron County Tema: Introdución a Coordinación de Servicios Capacitación para-Horas de Educación Continua se ofrecio el viernes 26 de julio de 2024 en el Centro Cultural, Brownsville, Texas. Curso de apredizaje en linea y presencial es aprobado y cumple con las competencias fundamentals para certificación estatal de Departamento de Servicios de Salud Estado de Texas a través de South Coastal AHEC, Sitio de Capacitación #47 (Texas DSHS, 2024). Juana Escareño escareno@uthscsa.edu Barreras de Comunicación en el Cuidado de la Salud Tema: Barreras de Comunicación en el Cuidado de la Salud Facilitadora: Amelia Roy, CHWI Capacitación para-Horas de Educación Continua se ofrecio el viernes 29 de junio de 2024 en el centro de entrenamiento para Promotoras(es) de LRGV AHEC, Harlingen, Texas. Curso de apredizaje en linea y presencial es aprobado y cumple con las competencias fundamentals para certificación estatal de Departamento de Servicios de Salud Estado de Texas a través de South Coastal AHEC, Sitio de Capacitación #47 (Texas DSHS, 2024). For more information contact Juana Escareño at escareno@uthscsa.edu | | | Future Events & Learning Opportunities Follow South Texas AHEC on Facebook @STAHEC | | Follow Southwest Border AHEC on Facebook @SWBAHEC | | Follow Mid Rio Grande Border AHEC on Facebook @AreaHealthEducationCenter Bowl Cancer Away Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 12:30 ro 4:00pm 5823 Mcpherson Rd. (Jett Bowl North) Laredo, Tx Join AHEC as we get together to bowl cancer away! Please call us to RSVP your lane! All proceeds will be donated to MD Anderson. For more information contact Hazel Medellin at 956-712-0037 or hmedellin@mrgbahec.org ALS Support Group September 17, 2024 from 6:30-7:30pm 1505 Calle del Norte (Area Health Education Center Office) Ste. 430 Laredo, Texas If you or someone you know has been affected by ALS or would simply like to know more and provide support to others, please join us at our monthly support group meetings. For more information contact Hazel Medellin at 956-712-0037 or hmedellin@mrgbahec.org Mental Health Virtual Seminar September 20, 2024 from 1:30 - 2:30 via zoom Our Mental Health Virtual Seminars are held every other Friday and are free to register for via the QR code or link. Each presentation is over a mental health topic and 1 CEU may be earned for social workers or counselors. For more information contact Hazel Medellin at 956-712-0037 or hmedellin@mrgbahec.org 28th Annual Domestic Violence Conference October 3, 2024 from 8:00am to 5:00pm 5201 University Blvd (TAMIU) Laredo, Texas Join us as the Domestic Violence Coalition hosts the 28th Annual Domestic Violence Conference in Laredo! The Conference will host guest speakers throughout the day and resources will be available. Contact the AHEC office for more information at 956-712-0037. 40th Annual Update in Medicine Conference October 25th and 26th, 2024 Virtual Join us for a virtual conference offering current health information on various conditions affecting our community. Conference fees and details can be found on the flyer. CEUs will be offered. If you have any additional questions, please call the Area Health Education Center at 956-712-0037 | | Follow South Central AHEC on Facebook @SouthCentralTexasAHEC Rural Telementoring UnConference 2024 October 16, 2024 from 10:00am to 2:00pm Register here: https://uthealthsa.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwtc-2oqDoqHN0wrYr22coEZRX8Il2Djpnl?utm_campaign=2024%20UnConference%20Planning%20eBurst&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--hGjNe0QbacT23gl93EzP3uK1TkNaqnHvfHH176ohllpv-OW_-RAzFF418XlGMtI2HBz4L6XIT7pT4II9cSFr1-Qqjeg&_hsmi=2&utm_content=2&utm_source=hs_email#/registration Mark your calendars! The 3rd annual Rural Telementoring UnConference will be hosted by the RTTC on October 16th, 2024. This unique virtual event presents an unmatched opportunity for participants to connect and collaborate with other public health professionals to examine and reflect on this year's theme: Enhancing Rural Resilience: The Intersection of Climate, Behavioral Health, and Workforce. The UnConference is a participant-driven event that creates a space to share experiences, generate innovative ideas, and build partnerships. You drive the agenda. You shape the conversation. For more information, click here! Frio County TAB Presents- 3rd Annual Frio County Fall Family Festival November 9, 2024 from 11am to 2pm at Polo Patiño Park - 142 W. Davila St. Pearsall, TX 78061 Frio Translational Advisory Board (TAB) is pleased to announce our upcoming 3rd annual Fall Family Fest for families across Frio County on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Like the previous year, our goal is to provide a free community-wide event emphasizing health, education, wellness, and prevention while providing fun activities for all ages. We want to invite you and others again to join us in providing free health screenings, information, education, resources, and other health-related services. The Frio TAB Fall Family Festival will occur: Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Polo Patiño Park 142 W. Davila St. Pearsall, TX 78061 This free event will be outdoors, and we hope to make it an engaging and informative experience for the community. For more information contact Ariel Gomez at GomezA6@uthscsa.edu Aging Well Conference November 16, 2024 11:00am to 2:00pm The Neighborhood Place 3014 Rivas St, San Antonio, TX 78228 We are excited to announce our Aging Well Conference, "You Do Better When You Know Better!" Join us on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 11 AM to 2 PM at The Neighborhood Place, located at 3014 Rivas Street, San Antonio, Texas 78228. This free event will feature a raffle with door prizes, complimentary food, and opportunities to connect with community organizations based in Bexar County. People from all walks of life are welcome to attend and benefit from the valuable information and resources that will be shared. Don't miss out on this chance to learn, engage, and enjoy a wonderful community event! For more information contact: Ariel Gomez at GomezA6@uthscsa.edu | | Follow South Coastal AHEC on Facebook @SouthCoastalAHEC.CC Coastal Bend Food Bank Health Fair September 20, 2024 from 11am to 4pm Mary Anne Sinclair Community Room, Coastal Bend Food Bank 5442 Bear Lane, Corpus Christi, TX The Coastal Bend Food Bank is hosting a community resource fair. Through this event, they hope to emphasize that September is Hunger Action Month. This is a great way for the community to come together and see the variety of resources available to them. For more information, contact Brittany Colunga at 361-881-8133 Orange Grove Food Distribution September 21, 2024 frrom 7am to 10am El Buen Pastor, 306 Voelkel Ave, Orange Grove, TX South Coastal AHEC's monthly food distribution is taking place September 21st at 7:00 am in Orange Grove Texas. Each month the South Coastal team is eager to bring resources to this small community and help as many people as possible. For more information, contact Belinda Flores at 361-881-8133 | | Follow Lower Rio Grande Valley AHEC on Facebook at @lrgv.ahec | | | Attention Health Profession Students! The AHEC Scholars Program is Recruiting! This program is an opportunity for health profession students, of all disciplines, to participate in interprofessional education (IPE) healthcare activities. The duration of the program is 1-2 years (depending on discipline), runs concurrently with a student’s academic curriculum, and concludes when the student graduates from their respective health profession program. In addition to educational and professional enrichment, the AHEC Scholars Program offers a $500 stipend, per year in the program, to help offset student costs. If you are interested in applying please click here. The AHEC Scholars Program is explained in greater detail at https://stahec.uthscsa.edu/ahec-scholars. Alternatively, please contact Roni Vela by e-mail at velav4@uthscsa.edu or phone at 361-881-8133, for more information. Please note: We are unable to accept pre-health profession students at this time. | | | | | | | | | | South Texas Area Health Education Center Program Office UT Health - San Antonio 7703 Floyd Curl Drive | San Antonio, TX 78229 | 210-567-0482 | | | | | | | | |