Salud America! Targets Latino Child Obesity During Nat’l Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Sep 2nd
Salud America! The RWJF Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children, which is led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, is observing National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and encouraging people to join us and get involved.
Earlier this year, a resolution was unanimously passed in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate designating September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, to bring attention to this growing epidemic.
Mexican-American children are more likely to be obese or overweight (38%) than children overall (31.9%), putting them at greater risk for chronic disease and shorter lifespans.
In repsonse, Salud America! formed in 2008 to increase the number of researchers, policy-makers and community leaders engaged in research to prevent obesity among Latino children. We have:
- Developed a network of more than 1,600 people interested in preventing Latino childhood obesity.
- Developed first National Latino Child Obesity Research Agenda.
- Funded, through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 20 pilot research projects working in and with Latino communities on a variety of nutrition, physical activity and policy issues.
- Developed the SaludToday Web site and blog to spread positive Latino health stories and messages.
And we’ve also produced an award-winning dramatic video that uses shocking statistics and actual child voices to document the multi-faceted epidemic of Latino childhood obesity, “Did You Know?/¿Sabía Usted?”
‘Insider’ Training Program to Increase Number of Latino Researchers Studying Latino Cancer
Aug 30th
Question: Who might have insider information about Latinos that would pave the way for novel studies of cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic issues to prevent Latinos from suffering worse cancer outcomes?
Answer: A cancer researcher who also is a Latino.
To that end, the new Latino Training Program for Cancer Control Research (LTPCCR), led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio thanks to a new five-year, $1.57-million grant from the National Cancer Institute, aims to motivate Latinos to get their doctoral degree and become “insider researchers” in the field of cancer control among Latinos.
Right now, few Latinos pursue doctoral degrees or cancer research careers, causing a gap in the amount of researchers examining Latino cancer issues.
The LTPCCR will develop and organize a summer training institute, paid research internships, doctoral application support and mentoring to encourage Latino master’s-level students and professionals—from Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada—to complete doctoral programs and start careers in cancer control research.
“We hope that training new Latino researchers will increase the proportion of Latinos in cancer control research, which in turn will increase the amount of work being done to reduce cancer health inequalities that affect the Latino population,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of the IHPR, the team behind SaludToday.
Read more about the new program here.
IHPR’s Dr. Ramirez Named to Prestigious ‘Council of Experts’ on Cancer Prevention
Aug 27th
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind SaludToday, has been named to a prestigious Council of Experts to help achieve the goals of the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship.
The National Call to Action (NCTA) was unveiled in 2008 by cyclist and cancer prevention activist Lance Armstrong and four former U.S. Surgeon Generals—Drs. Antonia C. Novello, Joycelyn Elders, David Satcher and Richard H. Carmona—to outline a battle plan in the new war on cancer. The NCTA also serves as a roadmap for cancer survivors, health care professionals, policymakers, employers, educators, insurers, and scientists to identify the best strategies for cancer prevention and survivorship and make both cancer prevention and survivorship a national priority.
The NCTA Council of Experts will provide strategic guidance to the NCTA Community, a collective of individuals and organizations who share the mission of advancing the NCTA by conducting projects focused on improving the health and well-being of the whole person at all stages along the cancer continuum.
“I very honored and excited to join this Council of Experts,” said Dr. Ramirez, who also is co-director of the Cancer Prevention and Population Science research program at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC), the UT Health Science Center’s National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center. “I believe this council will be able to make great strides in preventing cancer and increasing access to screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship resources throughout the cancer continuum.”
Read more about the council here.
PSAs Win Film Awards for Raising Latino Cancer Screening Awareness
Aug 26th
Two public service announcements (PSAs) that urge Latinos to get screened for cancer have won prestigious “Public Service” Awards at the 31st Annual Telly Awards for the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind SaludToday.
The winning PSAs, “I Admire Them” and “Now You Know,” are 30-second TV spots produced by the IHPR’s Redes En Acción: The National Latino Cancer Research Network, a National Cancer Institute network.
These two PSAs and four others were released in late 2009 by Redes to encourage Latinos to learn more about screening tests available for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers by calling the NCI’s toll-free number (1-800-4CANCER). The culturally appropriate PSAs were developed by Redes cancer experts.
All 6 PSAs, which are currently airing on TV stations across the nation and on the SaludToday Web site.
Watch the winning PSA, “I Admire Them,” in English or Spanish or below:
Watch the winning PSA, “Now Your Know,” in English or Spanish or below:
Just the Facts: Obesity Among Latino Youths
Aug 25th
Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has updated its Overweight and Obesity Among Latino Youths fact sheets, which highlights the prevalence, consequences and causes of overweight and obesity among Latino youths, in both English and Spanish.
While childhood obesity has increased significantly throughout the general population, children from minority communities have been disproportionately affected.
Sharply higher rates of overweight and obesity have occurred among Latino, African-American and Native American children and adolescents.
We at SaludToday hope you read the fact sheet and get motivated to do something about it.
See Who’s Stepping Up Vs. Latino Child Obesity
Aug 16th
How does Cookie Monster help Latino pre-schoolers eat right, exercise? How does Marathon Kids get children to “run” from obesity? How does Dharma Cortes teach low-income Latinos to shop, eat healthier?
Find the answers and more in the latest Salud America! E-newsletter.
Also find out the latest in Latino childhood obesity policy, news and updated on Salud America!
Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation network to pevent obesity among Latino kids. The network is directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, which developed SaludToday. To sign up to receive Salud America! E-newsletters, go here.
Latinos, Here’s Motivation to Quit Smoking
Aug 9th
Latinos, need inspiration or help finding the way to quit smoking?
There is good news: The Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR), the team behind SaludToday, has developed ¡Buena Vida! A Guide to Help You Quit Smoking. The booklet offers binlingual info, tools and tips for quitting smoking, and tells the stories of Latinos who have quit, like Estefanía Villareal (at right).
Read the booklet in English.
Read the booklet in Spanish.
Find out more about the IHPR’s materials to help Latinos quit smoking. Call 877-YES-QUIT in Texas for specific, personalized help to quit smoking.
Get Involved in the Fight Against Latino Cancer
Aug 6th
Here are some ways you can get involved in the fight against cancer:
Join Redes En Acción
You’re invited to join Redes En Acción: The National Latino Cancer Research Network and become part of a nationwide effort to fight cancer among Latinos. Redes, which is funded by the National Cancer Institute and directed by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of SaludToday and the Institute of Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, has spent 10 years reducing Latino cancer. Redes has generated more than $200 million in funding for cancer research, trained more than 200 students and professionals and conducted more than 2,000 community education events and developed bilingual educational materials.
Join a Cancer Clinical Trial
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a database of available clinical trials across the U.S. For help finding a clinical trial, you also can call the NCI at 1-800-4-CANCER. Another phone resource for help finding clinical trials is the American Cancer Society’s help line at 1-800-303-5691. The ACS line is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET Monday to Friday. If you live in South Texas, the Cancer Therapy & Research Center in San Antonio, Texas, has information about local clinical trials at 210-450-5798.
Cancer Disparities Research Opportunities
The American Cancer Society announces new opportunities for partnering organizations to become involved in research focused on reducing cancer disparities for population groups disproportionately affected by cancer burdens. The Cancer Control and Prevention Research Program of the Extramural Research and Training Grants Department is calling for applications in psychosocial, behavioral, health policy and health services research that addresses health disparities. For information, contact Ronit Elk, Program Director (Ronit.Elk@cancer.org) or Kim Smith, Program Coordinator (Kim.A.Smith@cancer.org).
Community Health Centers Are Flourishing; Just Ask Salud America! Grantee Dr. Dudley
Jul 30th
Known by many for his affable bedside manner, Dr. Robert Dudley, left, examines patient Elvis Garcia at the New Britain Community Health Center (From the Hartford Courant).
As hospitals struggle to balance the books and social service groups cope with budget cuts and heightened demands, community health centers across the state are flourishing, the Hartford Courant reports.
Just ask Dr. Robert Dudley of the Community Health Center in New Britain, Conn.
Dr. Dudley, a grantee of Salud America!, a national network led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, has seen his health center’s medical personnel multiply and move from an empty limosine garage to a renovated building that opened in June after a $6.3 million project to expand and upgrade the space.
He even dubbed the new exam rooms the “luxury suite.”
“You’re the third person to be in this room, ever,” he told his patient, a 12-year-old girl who has been his patient for her entire life, according to the Courant.
More from the Courant:
The health center serves as a “medical home.” The idea is to give patients a regular source of care that they can access easily, treating all aspects of their health and coordinating their treatment — making sure someone keeps track of referrals, medications and everything else related to the person’s health.
The federal health reform law includes provisions for developing medical homes. It offers states money if they develop a care coordination program through Medicaid for people with chronic illnesses, for example. The federal government is also launching a demonstration project for medical homes in Medicare.
Read more about the trending community health centers here and Dr. Dudley’s Salud America! pilot project to combat Latino childhood obesity here.
Join Redes En Acción & Help Fight Latino Cancer
Jul 29th
You’re invited to join 
Redes En Acción: The National Latino Cancer Research Network and become part of a nationwide effort to fight cancer among Latinos.
Redes, which is funded by the National Cancer Institute and directed by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of SaludToday and the Institute of Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, has spent 10 years reducing Latino cancer.
Redes has generated more than $200 million in funding for cancer research, trained more than 200 students and health professionals and conducted more than 2,000 community education events and developed bilingual educational materials and PSAs.
Watch a stirring video here or below about the program’s achievements among Latinos. Then join us!
Also, watch the program’s six new PSAs touting Latino cancer prevention in English or Spanish here. To request broadcast-quality formats of the PSAs, email us at saludtoday@uthscsa.edu.