The California Department of Substance Control (DTSC) received 61 comments, 80% from Salud America! network members, that urged state regulators to remove harmful chemicals in nail-care products. The department began taking statements on February 15, asking for the public’s input on toluene — a substance linked to numerous adverse health issues. Studies and reports have shown that this chemical poses harm to those who experience long-term exposure. We asked our Salud America! network members in California to speak up for the safety of salon industry workers and consumers. The DTSC received 61 comments, 50 of which were or a variation of, Salud America! model messages. Still, the DTSC has more work to do in determining whether or not toluene should become a “priority ...
On Thursday, March 28, 2019, for the first time ever, Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio will join dozens of nonprofits in raising funds for the health and well being of kids and families in our community! This is the first time in Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio's 12-year history that we're partnering with local nonprofits for the #BigGive2019. What's the #BigGive 2019? The the #BigGive2019 is a 1-day online event expected to bring out thousands of partners in support of local initiatives that have a direct impact on people in San Antonio, Bexar County, and surrounding communities.
Why We're Excited to Join the #BigGive2019
This is our chance for us to showcase the healthy changes happening in San Antonio. Here are just a few examples of Salud America! Salud ...
Latinos and other minorities are frequently subject to negative stereotypes. In fact, 78% of Latinos in the United States said they face discrimination. That number is even worse for blacks at 92%. A new Stanford Univerity study shows the problem bleeds into the treatment minorities receive from law enforcement. The Open Policing Project (OPP) found that police stopped and searched black and Latino drivers with less basis of evidence than used in stopping white drivers, who are searched less often but are more likely to be found with illegal items. "Because of this analysis, we're able to get to that anecdotal story to say this is really happening," Sharad Goel, an assistant professor in management science and engineering at Stanford and a co-author of the study, told NBC ...
Congratulations to Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, on being selected for the Bluebonnet Award of the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics! This honor recognizes an individual who is not a dietitian, but who has contributed significantly to promote and advance nutrition in Texas and beyond. Ramirez will be formally recognized during the annual conference of the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on April 11, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. “I’m very thankful for this award from the Texas Academy, which is a recognition of our ongoing work to promote healthy food access for Latinos in Texas and across the nation,” Ramirez said.
Dr. Ramirez & Her Work to Advance Nutrition
Ramirez currently directs the Salud America! ...
San Antonio is a vibrant, historic, still-growing city (63% Latino). But people here still face uphill health battles. They face diabetes, obesity, and inequitable access to quality medical care, education, income, and support. The good news is that community and school advocates are making a difference! And our program, Salud America! led by Dr. Amelie Ramirez at UT Health San Antonio, spotlights these heroes and enables action to improve local health! Advocates Making a Difference for San Antonio Health Here are some San Antonio heroes on our Salud America! website: Mental Health Support for City's Youngest Kids. Fred Cardenas helped build the Early Childhood Well Being (ECWB) at Family Service Association of San Antonio. ECWB intervenes early for kids ages 0-8 who ...
Oregon state leaders recently gave its renting residents greater peace of mind when it comes to housing security. The 13.1% Latino state became the first in the nation to pass a statewide rent control policy. It also makes it harder for landlords to evict tenants without reason. “This bill is a critical tool for stabilizing the rental market throughout the state of Oregon,” said Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, according to The Oregonian. "It will provide immediate relief to renters struggling to keep up with the rising rents in a tight rental market.” Policy Specifics Landlords across the state now can raise rent no more than 7% per year, plus the annual change in the consumer price index. However, the law does exempt rental properties that are less than 15 years ...
Diana Ballesteros-Gonzalez is motivated to work to prevent chronic disease among Latinos by her family’s health history, her work in the community, and her passion for public health. In fact, with the support of her husband, Ballesteros-Gonzalez bravely packed up and moved from the West Coast of her native California to the East Coast of New York to study public health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences with a certificate in Epidemiology of Chronic Disease. Ballesteros-Gonzalez’s ultimate career goal in public health is to not only become a professor, but also serve her hometown community to improve chronic disease outcomes. To further her potential to reach her goal, Ballesteros-Gonzalez applied for the ...
Thanks to her mother’s hard work, independence, and resilience, Sandra Garcia Camacho is poised to make an impact for Latino health. Garcia Camacho grew up in Yauco "The City of Coffee" in Puerto Rico. She completed her bachelor’s degree in natural sciences with a concentration in biomedicine at the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce. She then pursued her master’s degree in public health with an emphasis in biostatistics at the Medical Sciences Campus in Puerto Rico. She wants to conduct research in chronic disease, and looks forward to addressing research gaps in the study of polycystic kidney disease. To further her experience and education, Garcia Camacho applied for the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. The Éxito! program, led by Dr. ...
Like the beautiful photo of Erika Bonilla’s tia and father that serve as a reminder of her El Salvadorean roots, Bonilla is on a mission to see Latino families thrive. Bonilla holds bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s of public health degree from California State University, Long Beach. Bonilla is a Research Associate at the CSULB Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training. Her research focus includes: maternal and child health, adolescent health, women’s health, cervical cancer, HIV/AIDS prevention, childhood obesity prevention, community-based participatory research, education, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students of multiple disciplines in health science and human services majors. Having already gained valuable ...
