Office of Border Public Health
Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of the people living within the U.S.-Mexico border region by collaborating with partners and leveraging resources within and outside of Texas. OBPH builds relationships within communities to foster a safe and healthy environment and living practices. We monitor and share data on public health issues and their impact, support binational public health coalitions, conduct community-based initiatives, and support Community Health Workers.
We operate under the assumption that public health problems cannot be contained within international boundaries and that the U.S.-Mexico border region is one epidemiological zone. We work together to keep Texas healthy by keeping our border healthy.
About the Mandate
In 1991, the 72nd Texas Legislature enacted Health and Safety Code, Chapter 12, §12.071: HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE CHAPTER 12. POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES (texas.gov). That mandate stipulates that “The department shall establish and maintain an office in the department to coordinate and promote health and environmental issues between this state and Mexico.”
All four U.S. border states —Texas, California, Arizona, and New Mexico—have border health offices.
Vision
A healthy Texas-Mexico border
Mission
To improve health and well-being along the Texas-Mexico border
Goals
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Build sustainable partnerships with key border and binational organizations at federal, state, and local levels to promote communication, coordination and collaboration.
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Heighten awareness of border issues to facilitate public health funding and coordination along our border.
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Improve access to develop and strengthen the use of border data to identify priorities, trends, and emerging public health issues.
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Improve border public health outcomes by targeting culturally competent, outcome-based outreach, educational and training opportunities.
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Develop strategies to measure and enhance program effectiveness to enhance public health services to border communities.
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Identify effective intervention models that will increase the impact of border public health services.
Get statistical data on the region, including birth and death rates, population and demographics, hospital care, and health status.
Our Focus Areas
Like any community, whether large or small – urban or rural, they share several common themes to ensure cohesion. While regions differ in population and geography, a healthy balance of public health structure is essential. The focus areas below are vital to ensure long-lasting public health enhancements along the border region.
Community-based Healthy Border Initiatives
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Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of Public Health work plans and scope of work for regional activities along the Texas-Mexico Border.
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Continue rural school obesity prevention, diabetes self-education, linking border residents to HHS services, and community-based health promotion and education.
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Continue to use our certified DSHS Community Health Worker training center to build capacity of health professions workforce along the Texas-Mexico border.
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Ensure coordination of community-based healthy border initiatives across DSHS programs and the HHS System.
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Continuously identifying the learning needs of Community Health Workers serving Texans along the Texas/Mexico border.
Border and Binational Coordination
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Ensure intra-agency programmatic coordination of border public health services along the Texas-Mexico border.
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Enhance capacity to address binational coordination at the eight major sister-cities along the Texas-Mexico border in collaboration with the OBPH Binational Coordinator.
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Provide administrative support to the eight sister-city Binational Health Councils and develop state-to-state partnerships with Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, and Chihuahua.
Border Health Data
- Provide technical assistance and training to border program staff across all focus areas, prepare regular border health status reports, and provide inter- and intra-agency coordination on epidemiology and health data.
Best Practices and Evaluation
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Ensure programs/services consistency, conduct ongoing quality assurance to improve services along the Texas-Mexico border, eliminate duplication of services, leverage resources, and improve programmatic/service accountability.
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Allow for increased accountability and compliance in expanded contract and grant management, coordinate grant and contract work plan development, establish reporting and communication processes, lead financial management and budgeting, and outcome performance-informed budgeting.
For more border health data visit the Border Health Data webpage.
Physical Address
Texas Department of State Health Services Office of Border Public Health
1100 W. 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756-1962
United States
Book traversal links for Office of Border Public Health
Regional and Local Health Operations
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- Public Health Region 4/5N Environmental and Consumer Health Protection
- Public Health Region 4/5N Epidemiological Response Team Contacts
- Public Health Region 4/5N Health Facility Compliance Division
- Public Health Region 4/5N HIV-STD Program
- Public Health Region 4/5N Immunization Division
- Public Health Region 4/5N Tobacco Prevention and Control
- Public Health Region 4/5N Community Health Services
- Public Health Region 4/5N Oral Health Services
- Public Health Region 4/5N- Public Health Nursing Program
- Public Health Region 4/5N - Social Work Services
- Public Health Region 4/5N Tuberculosis Elimination Program
- Public Health Region 4/5N - Zoonosis Control
- Public Health Region 4/5N Children's Health Insurance (CHIP)
- Public Health Region 4/5 North Clinic Locations
- Public Health Region 4/5 North Local Health Departments
- Public Health Region 4/5 North Publications
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- Public Health Region 2/3 Administration
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- DSHS PHR 2/3 Epidemiology
- DSHS Region 2/3 HIV/STD Program
- Texas Health Steps
- Zoonosis Control Public Health Region 2/3 Arlington, Texas
- Retail Foods
- Audiology Service Providers - Region 3
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- Nursing
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- Public Health Region 2/3 Local Health Departments
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- Public Health Region 1 Contacts
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- Public Health Region 1 Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Health Service Region 1 - Public Health Preparedness
- Public Health Region 1 Community Health Improvement
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- Community Health Worker - Texas Public Health Region 1
- Public Health Region 1 Epidemiology and Surveillance
- Public Health Region 1 Radiation Control
- Public Health Region 1 Clinical Laboratory Improvement (CLIA)
- Public Health Region 1 STD and HIV Prevention
- Public Health Region 1 Tobacco Prevention and Control
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- Public Health Region 1 Environmental Services
- Public Health Region 1 Public Sanitation and Retail Food Safety
- Public Health Region 1 Health Facility Licensing and Compliance HFLC Zone 1 Office
- Public Health Region 1 Oral Health Services
- Public Health Region 1 Indigent Health Care
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- Public Health Region 1 - Epidemiology and Surveillance
- Public Health Region 1 Meat Safety Assurance
- Public Health Region 1 Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)
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- Public Health Region 6/5S Clinic Locations
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- Dental Health Services - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South and Region 7
- Zoonosis Control - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South
- Preparedness - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South
- HIV-STD Program - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South
- Public Health Region 6/5S- Community Health Services
- Public Health Region (PHR) 6-5S Immunization Program
- Public Health Region 6/5 Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
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- Specialized Health & Social Services - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South
- Public Health Region 6/5S - Environmental Health Services
- Public Health Region 6/5 Related Sites
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- Public Health Region 8 Local Health Departments
- Public Health Region 8 Local Health Authorities
- Public Health Region 8 Field Office Locations
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- Public Health Region 8 - Tuberculosis Elimination
- Public Health Region 8 - Zoonosis Control
- Public Health Region 8 - Epidemiology
- Public Health Region 8 - Oral Health
- Public Health Region 8 - Immunization
- Public Health Region 8 - Preparedness and Response
- Public Health Region 8 - Public Health Sanitation
- Public Health Region 8 - Retail Food Safety
- Public Health Region 8 - Tobacco Prevention and Control
- Public Health Region 8 - Binational Esperanza y Amistad Tuberculosis Program
- Public Health Region 8 - Border Public Health
- Public Health Region 8 - Specialized Health and Social Services
- Public Health Region 8 - Community Health Improvement
- Public Health Region 8 - HIV/STD Prevention
- Public Health Region 8 - Texas Health Steps
- Public Health Region 8 - Influenza (Flu) Surveillance
- Public Health Region 8 Annual Reports
- Public Health Region 8 Public Health Organizations Offering Mpox Vaccinations
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- Public Health Region 9/10 Data and Reports
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- Epidemiology
- HIV/STD
- Immunization Program
- Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women
- Preparedness and Response
- Health Steps - Texas Public Health Region 9/10
- Zoonosis
- Personal Care Services
- Public Health Region 9/10 Border Public Health
- Public Health Region 9/10 Oral Health Services
- Children With Special Health Care Needs
- Public Health Region 9/10 Local Health Departments
- Public Health Region 9/10 Offices and Clinics
- Public Health Region 9/10 Regional County Map
- Public Health Region 9/10 News & Events
- Public Health Region 9/10 Offering Mpox Vaccinations
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- Public Health Region 11 Local Health Departments
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- Public Health Region 11 Community Health Services
- Public Health Region 11 Immunization Program
- Public Health Region 11 Tobacco Prevention and Control
- Public Health Region 11 Zoonosis Control
- Public Health Region 11 Retail Foods Safety
- Public Health Region 11 Tuberculosis Elimination Program
- Public Health Region 11 Texas Health Steps Program
- Public Health Region 11 Toxic Substance Control Division
- Public Health Region 11 Vision, Hearing and Speech Services
- Public Health Region 11 Border Public Health
- Public Health Region 11 Preparedness and Response Program
- Public Health Region 11 Specialized Health and Social Services
- Public Health Region 11 Radiation Control Program
- Public Health Region 11 Epidemiological Response Team
- Public Health Region 11 TB Bi-National Project
- Public Health Region 11 General Sanitation Program
- Public Health Region 11 Manufactured Foods Program
- Public Health Region 11 Birth Defects Monitoring Division
- Public Health Region 11 Meat Safety Assurance Program
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- Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (CHEPR)
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- The Texas Portion of the U.S. – México Border
- Task Force of Border Health Officials
- Local Binational Communication and Collaboration
- Contact OBPH
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Office of Border Public Health Community Health Worker Training Center Open submenu links Close submenu links
- Healthy Border Initiative
- Border Health Data
- Map of DSHS Border Area
- Border Public Health News and Resources
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- Texas Local Public Health Organizations
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Public Health Improvement - Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (PHHSBG) Open submenu links Close submenu links
- Contact Regional and Local Health Operations