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Cliff Despres

Cliff Despres, who has more than a decade of experience in journalism and public relations, is communications director for Salud America! and its home base, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.

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Articles by Cliff Despres

Grant Will Expand Text-Message Program to Help Texans Quit Smoking


quitxt selfie group shot smoking tobacco

Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio today received a new $1.3 million grant to expand Quitxt, her bilingual service that sends texts with culturally and regionally tailored support to help South Texan young adults quit smoking. The new grant is from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas. The new funding will enhance the Quitxt service—currently designed to turns a user’s phone into a personal quit coach by providing texts and links to online support, educational content, music, and videos—with a new social media support component. Quitxt also will extend beyond South Texas to include English and Spanish speakers in rural counties, and Spanish speakers in urban areas of South, West and Central Texas. To quit smoking now, join Quitxt in English or ...

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Fight Rages on Over Menu Labeling in Restaurants



Thank you for speaking up on the importance of menu labeling! Salud America! supporters submitted 12% of the comments FDA received regarding their one-year delay of menu labeling (332 of 2,714 online comments). We also reached more than 6 million people online and on social media with menu labeling messages. These actions show that many people want to make it easy for Latino and all families to make healthier decisions about the foods they eat outside the home. Now, what will FDA do? The fight up to now Months ago, the FDA announced a one-year delay for food companies to adopt changes to menu labeling of foods in restaurants and other eateries. Industry stakeholders welcomed the extension amid concerns over their ability to meet the compliance deadline of July 2018, while ...

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Register: Inaugural Latino Cancer Science Conference Feb. 21-23, 2018!


doctor and nurse

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Dr. Amelie Ramirez, leader of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, is spearheading the Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference Feb. 21-23, 2018, in San Antonio. Latinos are expected to face a 142% rise in cancer in coming years. There is consistent evidence that higher amounts of body fat are associated with increased risks of a number of cancers, especially among Latinos. The inaugural Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference will unite health researchers, professionals, and leaders to tackle Latino cancer on many fronts. Register for the conference today! Submit an abstract for a poster presentation by Nov. 30, 2017. "We have seen substantial advancement in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment over ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 8/15: Elevate Early Childhood Development


child feet book

Nearly 85% of brain development happens before age 4. But Latino children are at risk of not getting the proper care and services they need during their formative first three years of life, creating educational achievement gaps. How can we bridge these gaps? Early care providers and early childhood development programs have the power to connect families to services and resources to improve Latino and all kids’ school readiness and promote healthy development and wellbeing. Let’s use #SaludTues on Aug. 15, 2017, to tweet about how we can elevate the conversation around early childhood development. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Elevate Early Childhood Development” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: ...

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The Growth of the Latino Population is Slowing Down


population of united states

While still on the rise, the annual growth rate of the U.S. Latino population has dropped from 3.7% in 2006 to 2% in 2017, according to new stats from Pew Research Center. U.S. Asians now account for the highest growth rate (3% in 2017). The black population rose slightly (0.9), while whites slightly decreased. Why the leveling off of Latino population growth? "Following a Hispanic population boom in the 1990s that was driven by immigration and high fertility rates, the Hispanic population’s annual growth rate peaked at 4.2% in 2001," according to Pew's Jens Manuel Krogstad. "It then started to decline as fertility rates fell and immigration slowed, a trend that accelerated during the Great Recession." But that doesn't mean the Latino population is in decline. Rather, ...

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What’s Your Big Idea for Healthy Kids?


big idea graphic 2

What is the one thing you want most for kids? Salud America! can customize an "Action Pack” just for you to help you build a case and get supporters for your big idea for a healthy change, whether it’s water bottle fountains, brain breaks, shared use, bullying policies, etc. Action Packs can include: Custom emails to school/district leaders Custom webpage to build supporters Custom data and graphics for social media Custom fact sheets, FAQs and PPTs See samples Request your customized Action Pack now! Michaeli Smith, the wellness coordinator at Comal ISD in Texas, had a big idea for more water bottle fountains in schools. Water bottle fountains, compared to traditional water fountains, help improve students' access to water in schools be enabling them ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 8/1/17: Water vs. Sugary Drinks


latina girl drinking from water fountain

Latino kids consume more sugary drinks than their peers at all ages, which contributes to their high obesity rates, research shows. And they drink less water, too. Water consumption can decrease sugary drink intake, prevent cavities, and reduce risk of dehydration and its effect on fatigue and brain functioning. Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, to tweet how to increase access to water for Latino and all kids, and celebrate the #SaludWater campaign! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Water vs. Sugary Drinks” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludToday CO-HOST: The Center for Science in the Public Interest (@CSPI), Public Health Advocates (@WeArePHA), Kick the Can ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 7/18: You’re the Mom!


Latina mom eating healthy food with child

Busy schedules and the convenience of fast food make it hard for families to eat healthy. This is especially true for Latino and African American communities where fast food tends to be more abundant and access to grocery stores is limited. Moms have the power to make a change! Let's use #SaludTues on July 18, 2017, to tweet about empowering moms to make healthy food choices for their family, including the awesome digital tools that are part of the "You’re the Mom" campaign! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “You’re the Mom: Making Meals Healthy & Fun for Kids” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (12-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, July 18, 2017 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludToday CO-HOSTS: ...

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Tell FDA: Save Menu Labeling (Again)!


family looking at menu at restaurant outdoors

You helped save menu labeling—for now! Supporters of Salud America!, our national Latino child health promotion program at UT Health San Antonio, submitted 10% of the 1,126 comments the FDA received about their one-year delay for restaurants to add menu labeling. FDA is listening to your comments! FDA wants more feedback on their delay of menu labeling—this week they extended the public comment deadline from July 3 to Aug. 2, 2017. Here’s how to submit a public comment right now: 1. Copy the model comment below. This comment was adapted from the Center for Science in the Public Interest by Salud America!. For the health of Latino and all families, I strongly support immediate implementation of menu labeling in chain restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, ...

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