Teen Driver Safety Week: 5 Strategies to Teach Your Latino Teen about the Risks of the Road



Parents know that teenagers have a lot to teach us. Many parents can send text messages, check e-mail on our cell phones or use a MP3 device because of their teens. Teen Driver Safety Week Oct. 14-20, is parents' turn to return the favor. This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) encourages parents to teach teens ways that they can be safer drivers. For Latino parents, this teaching is particularly important, as car crashes are the leading cause of death for Hispanic teens. Luckily, that’s a statistic you can change. Here are five strategies: 1. Set a Good Example: If you’re telling your teen to follow safe driving behaviors, so should you. That means always wearing your seat belt, keeping your cell phone in ...

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Infographic: What Does Public Health Mean for You?



Public health helps kids grow up healthy and helps build strong communities. Public health saves lives and saves money. But it is often tricky describing public health and its impact in concrete terms, which is a critical step in building support for these important programs. This infographic from the American Public Health Association (APHA) is an excellent tool to show the positive impact of public health and reinforce the importance of funding for public health programs at all ...

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Who is Èxito!: Carla Rosales



Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Carla Rosales Kenner, La. Carla Rosales found herself essentially on her own in a new city in New Orleans, not knowing anyone, not knowing much about the college process and little financial aid. But with her supportive parents in her native Honduras and her family’s faith and culture, she overcame many hurdles and doubts to move to New Orleans in 2006—a year after Hurricane Katrina—and reach her higher education goals. Rosales earned her bachelor’s degree and worked as a research assistant at the University of New Orleans, where she helped conduct research based on identification and characterization of ...

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Video: Is the ‘Modern Neighborhood’ a Root Cause of American Obesity?



Is the "modern neighborhood" a root cause of the U.S. obesity epidemic? Check out this new video featuring Dr. James Sallis, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, who works to change how U.S. residential areas are designed and constructed by emphasizing pedestrian access and public parks and de-emphasizing the need for cars for everyday life. Sallis also directs Active Living Research, a granting program for The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that supports studies to prevent childhood obesity and promote active ...

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Infographic: The Role of Parks & Rec in Promoting Physical Activity



Parks, trails, and recreational facilities provide a wide variety of opportunities for physical activity and can help many Americans lead a more active lifestyle. A new infographic from Active Living Research, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation national program, highlights evidence that parks and recreation areas can increase physical activity levels while also providing economic benefits to families and communities. The infographic also shows that 81% of Hispanic communities lack access to recreational ...

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Video: How Soda Can Adversely Impact a Family (with Song by Jason Mraz)



"The Real Bears" is an animated short film, featuring an original song by Grammy-award-winning singer/songwriter Jason Mraz and directed by advertising legend Alex Bogusky, that tells the story of a family suffering the adverse health effects of soda, including obesity, tooth decay, and diabetes and its associated complications, including amputation and erectile dysfunction. Sugary drinks are the number one source of calories in the American diet. With one third of America overweight and another third obese, it's a wonder anyone is still swallowing what the soda companies are selling, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest, who are behind the video At the end of the video, the family of Bears decides to reclaim their health—and their happiness. ...

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Infographic: Can Culture Help Prevent Latino Health Problems?



Check out Balsera Communications' infographic on how culture may help prevent Latino health problems. Latinos face a high risk of certain health problems—heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and certain cancers—but the infographic argues that, "by infusing some of the most cherished traits of our culture into solutions for our health disparities, we can help overcome them in a fun and effortless ...

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Video: How Can ‘Latino Research Training’ Work for You?



Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by March 15, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training, based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, will select 20 master’s-level students and master’s trained health professionals from across the nation to attend a five-day summer institute June 3-7, 2013, in San Antonio, offering tools, tips, role models and motivation to encourage participants to pursue a doctoral degree and a career studying how cancer affects Latinos differently. Internships also are available. Apply here. Why should you consider the program? Watch this video. Or listen to Steven ...

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Revamped Website Tackles Latino Health Issues



You’re invited to check out the new revamped website of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, which investigates the causes of and solutions to the unequal impact of cancer, chronic disease and obesity among Latinos in South Texas and across the nation. The website now features: Additional areas for news, research and materials Better organization for rapid access to research Seamless video player Social media integration You can also now sign up to get the latest Latino health news via e-mail. “Our website aims to raise awareness of our work to improve the health of Latinos, a diverse, culturally rich population that faces a higher burden of certain diseases than other groups,” said Amelie G. Ramirez, ...

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