Research and Projects
Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Collaborative
The Child Welfare Training Collaborative (CWTC) is a Title IV-E Educational Project housed in the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Department of Social Work. CWTC is a partnership built between the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Children’s Protective Services (CPS). The partnership offers CPS employees in Title IV-E funded positions with the opportunity to pursue a Master of Social work (MSW) degree with the goal of continued work with CPS in the outlined positions.
CPS Staff Requirements
Employees in the Title IV-E funded positions with DFPS must contact their immediate supervisor for proper approval and guidance through the application process. Employees who receive approval to participate in this project will be expected to repay the stipend funding with time as a CPS employee in a Title IV-E allowable position: 4 months for each semester funded by the stipend.
Information Brochure
Stipend Agreement for Incoming MSW Students
HPV Mitigation and Cancer Prevention across the Lifespan on Mexican Origin
Funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). From 2019 until 2024, the project has been working to a) assess HPV-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the border community, b) identify barriers and facilitators of HPV vaccine uptake, and c) utilize targeted interventions to improve vaccination, screening, and health literacy across the lifespan.
University of Texas MD Anderson Center
This project focuses on developing a bilingual, culturally and linguistically, tailored HPV infection and vaccine intervention through a community-oriented approach. This project follows three different aims 1) enhance outreach events, education sessions, home visits, and follow-ups in rural Texas communities (Canutillo, Socorro, San Elizario), 2) implement provider and staff education training regarding HPV vaccine recommendations for those 9-17 years old, and 3) train and enhance community health workers at Familias Triunfadoras, Inc.
AT&T Foundation
The AT&T Foundation grant will be used to support training 40 promotores/as de salud, lay professionals dedicated to promoting prevention and health promotion, in health information technology and digital health literacy to provide educational outreach to increase access to healthcare and social services in low-income communities in El Paso.
Advancing Health Equity on the U.S.-Mexico border: An Initiative to Address Health Misinformation through Community Outreach and Partnerships
This project launches a dual initiative that advances health equity and digital health literacy in the U.S.-Mexico border by training, equipping, and empowering community health workers and undergraduate social work students.
CAP2 A High Impact Educational Experience: Designing culturally appropriate water purification prototype in San Elizario Colonias
The project aims to document the lack of safe drinking water in a San Elizario, Texas colonia, train a cadre of undergraduate social work and engineering students in the design of a culturally appropriate water purification prototype in the area, and develop an elective course on sustainability and environmental health justice for undergraduate students for both universities. Social work and engineering students will be working together in the project to learn and practice environmental justice and health. The work will be supported with the collaboration of Familias Triunfadoras, Inc.
Food Security Equity Impact Grant
This planning grant examines the root causes of poverty in El Paso through surveys and interviews/focus groups with community leaders and members with lived experience on poverty and food insecurity.
Reducing Mental Health Disparities for Hispanic adults in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region through a Community-grounded Mental Health Engagement Program
Funded by the inaugural Sobel-Duncan Health Disparities Research Award, this project integrated findings from community focus groups, best practices, and iterative feedback from a community advisory board to develop a culturally responsive mental health engagement program, Pensamientos y Pláticas. As part of this project, participants are recruited, screened, and placed into groups of 6-10 to complete the 4-week program consisting of weekly educational, skill-building, and community-building sessions. We are currently continuing to collect feasibility and preliminary efficacy outcome data while securing additional funding to continue providing the program in the Paso del Norte region and potentially expanding to the San Antonio region.
Health Assessment of Mothers and Children Living in Subsidized Housing
This project is to assess health and well-being of single mothers and their children living in subsidized housing (HOME), El Paso Texas, identify factors associated with their health and well-being, and develop culturally responsive intervention strategies that meet the specific needs of this population.
Improving Glycemic Control with Electrical Stimulation In Mexican-Americans
Funded by NIH-National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, this project determines the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation as a novel alternative strategy to increase glycemic control, insulin sensitivity and metabolic health in at-risk populations.
Pensamientos y Pláticas: A Mental Health Engagement Program
Funded by the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, this project supports the provision of an evidence-informed and community grounded mental health engagement program called Pensamientos y Pláticas throughout the Paso del Norte region. This culturally responsive educational and skill-building program has been offered in collaboration with various community partners, including the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief, Villa Maria, Ciudad Nueva, the Opportunity Center, and Projecto MAMA with additional agencies onboarding over time.
Reducing Mental Health Disparities for Hispanic adults in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region through a Community-grounded Mental Health Engagement Program
Funded by the inaugural Sobel-Duncan Health Disparities Research Award, this feasibility study integrated findings from community focus groups, best practices, and iterative feedback from a community advisory board to develop a culturally responsive mental health engagement program, Pensamientos y Pláticas. As part of this project, participants are recruited, screened, and placed into groups of 6-10 to complete the 4-week program consisting of weekly educational, skill-building, and community-building sessions.
