Mission: The Social & Health Research Center is committed to improving the social and health well-being of populations at-risk.

Vision: The Social and Health Research Center expects to improve health behaviors with innovative and evidence-based health programs to control chronic disease such as obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes and to design better instruments to evaluate program effectiveness.

History: The Social and Health Research Center (SAHRC) was founded in 1991 by Dr. Roberto P. Treviño, a San Antonio physician interested in early age health interventions. To address the rising rates of childhood obesity, youth-onset type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease occurring in children, the SAHRC incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1995 with 501 (c) (3) status focusing on populations at risk.

Bienestar/NEEMA

In 1997, the SAHRC in collaboration with medical doctors, university professors, teachers, and parents developed Bienestar/NEEMA, a bilingual coordinated school health program (CSHP) comprising of four components that most influence children’s health: Health Class (health literacy), P.E. (physical activity), Cafeteria (Child Nutrition Services), and Home (Family Engagement).