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Border Health OrganizationsOn May 24, 2005 the Border Governors Conference Work Health Table met in Austin, Texas. In that meeting it was proposed that an initial meeting outcome would be the development of a clearinghouse of information on the BHC website. It was agreed that the site would contain information on organizations working on health issues along the US - México border region. The following information is a response to following that initiative and will continue to grow as information of other organizations is collected and update online. United States-México Border Health Commission The United States-México Border Health Commission (BHC or Commission) was created as a binational health commission in July 2000, with the signing of an agreement by the Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States and the Secretary of Health of México. On December 21, 2004 the Commission was designated as a Public International Organization by Executive Order of the President. The mission of the United States-México Border Health Commission is to provide international leadership to optimize health and quality of life along the U.S.-México border. The first Border Governors Conference convened in Juarez, Chihuahua, México in 1980 to begin a formal process of opening lines of communication among the ten U.S. and Mexican border states. Generally, a conference is held each year, alternating locations between the United States and México. Since 1980, the organization has enhanced joint border efforts addressing agriculture, border crossings, education, economic development, energy, environment, health, tourism, and border security issues. United States-México Border Governors Health Work Table (BGC) Director, Arizona Department of State Health Services 150 North 18th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85007 Tel. (602) 542-1025 / Fax (602) 542-1062 Secretario de Salud y Director General del Instituto de Servicios Palacio Federal 3er Piso C.P. 21000 Mexicali, Baja California Tel. (01152-686) 557-2820 / Fax (01152-686) 559-5817
United States-México Border Counties Coalition (USMBCC) The United States-México Border Counties Coalition is a nonpartisan, consensus-based policy and technical forum founded to address challenges facing county governments located on the United States-México Border. The elected officials from the twenty-four county governments located on the United States-México Border established the Coalition. These county governments face unique challenges in serving their residents. The Coalition recognizes that notwithstanding the differences among the participating counties some are large, some are small, some are urban and some are rural there are a number of issues that are common to all Border Counties. United States-México Border Legislative Conference (BLC) The Border Legislative Conference (BLC) is a program administered by the Council of State Governments (CSG)-WEST and its regional partner in the South, the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC), that serves as a mechanism for on-going dialogue and collaboration among state legislators of the United States and México . The goal of the project is to empower border state legislators to engage in the binational agenda and provide input and direction in the development of policy between both countries. The BLC fosters the development of shared solutions along the border region through joint consideration of common problems and exchange of information. The BLC also seeks to establish efficient and strategic collaborative efforts with multi level governments and non-governmental organizations to the end that border communities and state governments on both sides of the border may be strengthened and improved. In 1942, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), then known as the Pan American Sanitary Bureau was asked by the U.S. Public Health Service to help coordinate a border health campaign. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which serves as a Regional Office of the World Health Organization, is the oldest international health organization. Its first step was to establish a Field Office in El Paso and then immediately proceed to train personnel, launch an education campaign and provide treatment for venereal disease. Health Policy and Legislation
Policy Organizations
The Migrant Clinicians Network originally was founded in 1984 thanks to the efforts of three dedicated clinicians: Willa Hays, RN from Northwest Michigan Health Services, Inc.; Gail Stevens, RN from Delmarva Rural Ministries; and David Smith, then a physician at Brownsville Community Health Center. The three met at the 1984 Annual Migrant Health Conference in Padre Island. Willa, Gail, and David found a common link as they shared their feelings of personal isolation and dismay at the lack of migrant-specific resources available to clinicians. As a result, a grassroots clinical network consisting of clinicians dedicated to improved healthcare for migrant farmworkers came into being. MCN has since evolved into a formal network and continues to flourish with numerous partnerships and associations, diversified funding, and an active membership. MCN offers a variety of benefits to its clinician members including continuing education courses, professional publications, and foreign language trainings, all with the goal of culturally appropriate healthcare. MissionThe mission of the Migrant Clinicians Network is to positively impact the physical, mental and environmental health of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and other under-served mobile populations. MCN addresses the unique health care needs and barriers for these populations through leadership, innovation, collaboration and support to health care providers. Health Organizations
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an international public health agency with 100 years of experience working to improve health and living standards of the people of the Americas. It enjoys international recognition as part of the United Nations system, serving as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, and as the health organization of the Inter-American System. PAHO is based in Washington, D.C., and has scientific and technical experts at its headquarters, in its 27 country offices, and its eight scientific centers, all working with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in dealing with priority health issues. The health authorities of PAHO's Member States set PAHO's technical and administrative policies through its Governing Bodies. PAHO Member States include all 35 countries in the Americas; Puerto Rico is an Associate Member. France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are Participating States, and Portugal and Spain are Observer States. The Organization's essential mission is to strengthen national and local health systems and improve the health of the peoples of the Americas, in collaboration with Ministries of Health, other government and international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, universities, social security agencies, community groups, and many others. For more information please visit PAHO. World Health OrganizationThe World Health Organization, the United Nations specialized agency for health, was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO is governed by 192 Member States through the World Health Assembly. The Health Assembly is composed of representatives from WHO's Member States. The main tasks of the World Health Assembly are to approve the WHO program and the budget for the following biennium and to decide major policy questions. For more information please visit WHO. Department of Health and Human ServicesTHE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. THE DEPARTMENT INCLUDES MORE THAN 300 PROGRAMS, covering a wide spectrum of activities. Some highlights include:
HHS WORKS CLOSELY WITH STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, and many HHS-funded services are provided at the local level by state, county or tribal agencies, or through private sector grantees. The Department's programs are administered by 11 HHS operating divisions, including eight agencies in the U.S. Public Health Service and three human services agencies. In addition to the services they deliver, the HHS programs provide for equitable treatment of beneficiaries nationwide, and they enable the collection of national health and other data. The Department's Headquarters is in the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C., 20201. For more information please visit DHHS. Environmental Protection AgencyEPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. EPA works to develop and enforce regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. EPA is responsible for researching and setting national standards for a variety of environmental programs, and delegates to states and tribes the responsibility for issuing permits and for monitoring and enforcing compliance. Where national standards are not met, EPA can issue sanctions and take other steps to assist the states and tribes in reaching the desired levels of environmental quality. For more information please visit EPA. BECC- Border Environment Cooperation CommissionThe Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) identifies, supports, evaluates, and certifies affordable environmental infrastructure projects, as a binational team, to improve the quality of life for the people in the U.S.-México border region, now and in the future in an open public process. For more information please visit BECC IBWC- International Boundary and Water CommissionThe International Boundary and Water Commission has existed for over 110 years and thus has collected quite a colorful and interesting history. For more information please visit IBWC |
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| United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, bhc@borderhealth.org 211 N. Florence, Suite 101- El Paso, TX 79901, 915-532-1006 or 1-866-785-9867 |