The U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association (USMBHA) becomes the Alliance of Border Collaboratives

[Guest guest]

FYI….

Alliance of Border

Collaboratives (the

Alliance)

“Uniting

Border Experts under an Umbrella of Excellence”

Our

phone number is (915) 584-2875 see extensions below.

Our fax number is (915) 584-2876.

The

U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association (USMBHA) was created under the direction

and support of the Pan American Health Organization, as a U.S. based non-profit

corporation more than 60 years ago. In January 2010, the USMBHA Board decided

to reorganize. By closing its doors to operations the USMBHA suspended

its member-based functions, which had promoted the interests of border public

health professionals, like the annual meeting.

The Executive Committee requested that the Director of its Technical Division,

Rebeca Ramos, MPH, who has been responsible for the development, implementation

and evaluation of all projects since 1986, seek alternatives to maintain a

continuity of the community-based initiatives. The best alternative found was

to create a new corporation that could maintain a flawless continuation of

existing initiatives and preserved the successful trajectory of the Technical

Division. The Alliance of Border Collaboratives was thus created and

incorporated to seamlessly continue to provide training and technical

assistance to community-based initiatives and networks, such as those that

support community-based workers, and to collaborate on prevention efforts with

other organizations dealing with issues that affect Border populations.

The

purpose of the Alliance is to bring together, organizations and individuals to

strengthen the working relationships among them to build partnerships that will

further their opportunity to contribute to the effective delivery of programs

and services that improve the quality of life of border populations.

To accomplish this mission, the Alliance

functions as a:

A bridge

builder and convener, connecting people, organizations, and

institutions devoted to promoting a better quality of life for border

populations;

A catalyst

and facilitator helping to give impetus to innovative initiatives and

projects aimed at reducing disparities among border populations through

joint pursuits and mutually beneficial partnerships;

An

advocate for building trust and understanding among people,

organizations and institutions to promote a climate of mutual respect

which facilitates collaborative work;

A platform

to increase visibility, enhance the work and highlight the profile of

joint initiatives, programs that improve the quality of life of border

populations and the individuals, organizations, and institutions that

conduct them; and

A resource

to provide access to information and materials drawn from successful

cooperative initiatives, programs and services that could be used by other

institutions, organizations, or individuals seeking to improve the quality

of life of border populations.

The staff and managers of the following initiatives will continue to

collaborate to build up viable mechanisms to implement and evaluate TB, HIV,

violence and drug abuse prevention efforts. Among the projects to be continued

under the Alliance of Border Collaboratives are:

Alliance of Border Coalitions — A partnership of over forty

coalitions along the U.S.- Mexico Border, we will continue to work with the Coalitions

through the Border Counties Initiative and will pursue the continued support of

the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

Border Counties Initiative — A collaborating to strengthen

the Alliance of Border Coalitions and other provider networks, subcontracted by

the Behavioral Assessments Inc. in California.

Knowledge Attitude and

Behavior Survey on TB in Mexico — In collaboration with Project Concern International to study

perceptions of Mexican populations about tuberculosis transmission and

treatment.

Nuestra Casa- a communication and social

mobilization touring exhibit to create awareness of TB among the poor –

In collaboration with Project Concern International.

Pasa la Voz de Joven a Joven (Pass the Word – Youth to

Youth) — an HIV and drug prevention campaign, in collaboration with the

Border AIDS Partnership.

Pasa la Voz en Nuevo Mexico (Pass the Word in New Mexico) —

to adapt and evaluate Pasa la Voz targeting Latino men that have sex

with men (MSMs) with the New Mexico HD/CPG and Latino CBO, as a request from

the New Mexico Health Department.

Texas Latino Voice for

Tobacco Policy Change —

to affect policies

towards prevention of tobacco use among youth in partnership with area

stakeholders and with the support of the Border Counties Initiative

The Alliance of Border Collaborative is building new partnerships. We are now

working with the Society of Family Planning to study the unmet demand for

surgical sterilization among Mexican origin women.

Please feel free to contact us at the above numbers after February 22, 2010.

The staff and managers of the ABC community initiatives:

Alvarez ext. 152

Dora Basurto ext. 116

Chacon ext. 112

Nora Gallegos ext. 117

Eva Moya ext. 114

Rebeca Ramos ext. 151

Susie Villalobos ext. 118

Zenteno ext. 113