Tag Archives: Project Vida

Canutillo area residents will now have greater access to integrated health care in their community thanks to a new partnership between the Canutillo Independent School District and Project Vida Health Center.

The federally-qualified Canutillo Northwest Health Center is now open at 7000 Fifth Street in Canutillo and will provide primary health care and behavioral health to patients of all ages.

A licensed professional counselor will be available for integrated behavioral health care.

Canutillo ISD Executive Director of Student Support Services Dr. Monica Reyes is proud of the district’s participation in making the health center a reality.

“When our superintendent, Dr. (Pedro) Galaviz, said he wanted greater access to integrated health care services for our community, we went straight to work and established a partnership with Project Vida,” Reyes said. “We are pleased to continue to further support our students and their families with complete wrap-around services that now include accessible health care.”

David Godinez, Program Manager of Navigation and Behavioral Health in Schools for Project Vida Health Center says that the program enables more convenient access to services that would otherwise be out of reach for communities that reside further from city services.

“Project Vida aims to fill the gap with access to fully integrated primary and preventive care,” Godinez said. “The fact that we are able to open a health center in the heart of Canutillo will accommodate and benefit this community greatly.”

The clinic is now open four days a week, and as demand increases, organizers say that services will expand to six days a week. Patients without insurance are charged for services according to their ability to pay based on sliding scale fees.

Canutillo ISD Superintendent Dr. Pedro Galaviz believes that the new center will greatly improve the overall physical and mental well-being of students and their families.

“When our kids and parents are healthy, they have less to worry about, and they can be more successful in school and in life,” Galaviz said.

Community organizers will celebrate the opening of the new health center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.

Thanks to the participation of several local businesses, foundations and government, Project Vida‘s Microenterprise Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) has been funded to the tune of $135,000.

GECU, El Paso Electric, WestStar Bank, Hunt Family Foundation, United Way of El Paso County and the City of El Paso all contributed a to Project Vida’s MTAP – the grassroots asset-building economic development project.

Awards include El Paso Electric $10,000; GECU $10,000; WestStar Bank $5,000; Hunt Family Foundation $5,000; United Way $15,333; and the City of El Paso $90,000 from a Community Development Block Grant.

“MTAP engages marginal low- and moderate-income micro-business owners with business and financial literacy, management skill-building, and pathways to job retention and job creation,” Project Vida officials shared via a Friday morning news release.

MTAP transfers the community health worker/promotora model of outreach and trust-building to a business model of financial stability, asset-building, entry into the mainstream economy and growth toward small business status.

From 2013 to 2018, MTAP enrolled nearly 750 qualifying microenterprise owners in the program helping them retain 561 jobs and create 471 new jobs.

For more information on Project Vida or the Microenterprise Technical Assistance Program, contact Bill Schlesinger at (915) 533-7057, ext. 207, or w.schlesinger@pvida.net

“It’s just me and the kids,” said Maria. “I work, but not making much, this church helps me and helps everyone who comes.” Maria is talking about Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care in El Paso’s Lower Valley.

“We come for school things,” said Ms. Cortez. “Even the Walmart still charges so much. The school wants them to have so much. Without these [backpacks and basic school supplies] they would have nothing this year.”

Once a year YLM holds an event where they distribute backpacks, school supplies, and basic hygiene kits to school-age children.

“Twice a month we come for the food,” said an older lady who asked I not use her name. “When we come for the school items we are also blessed with a larger food basket.”

This year, as in prior years, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger has given extra-large food baskets to those who come. Each Saturday, YLM provides a basic food basket to those who come. “This helps make what we have last,” said Maria.

“What’s great about this,” said Terry Wyatt, of El Pasoan’s Fighting Hunger, “we’re feeding peoples bodies, and we’re feeding people’s minds. We’re getting children ready to learn by making sure they’re eating, and by YLM giving them school supplies. All year long, this community – YLM – works to feed the people in this area. It is one of our largest food pantries.”

The crowds began to the queue up as early as 7 am to register for the food distribution. At 8:30 other agencies began to arrive and set up.

“We are here to help give back to the community,” said Monica Esparza, with Molina Healthcare.

“We’ve helped by donating school supplies, and helping others with information about healthcareoptions and sign-ups.” Her booth was seeing a steady flow of individuals all throughout the morning.

Other organizations who came include Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Project Vida, the UTEP Public Health Department, Safe Link, and more.

“I come to the free medical clinic,” said Raul. YLM hosts Texas Tech and the RotoCare Clinic each Saturday. It’s a free medical clinic from 9 a.m. to noon. “If not for these people I would not be seeing a doctor. I don’t have money, so this is good.”

“We have this event each year,” said Elvira Viramontes, the program manager at Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care. “It is something the community needs. We work to meet their physical needs as well as their spiritual needs.”

Elvira did want to point out that YLM will be giving out winter coats later this year. Registration for that program is on November 1 st . “You must be registered,” she said, “to be given a coat.”

If you would like to know more or help with food or other material items you no longer need, give them a call at 915-858- 2588 or visit them online.