About The Social & Health Research Center

“The Social & Health Research Center is a non-profit organization committed to
the social and health well-being of populations at risk”

The Social & Health Research Center (SHRC) is a non-profit center committed to the social and health well-being of populations at-risk. The SHRC was founded in 1991 and incorporated as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt entity in 1995. In 1992 the SHRC conducted the Mexican-American Metabolic Study, a community-based study aimed at analyzing implied relationships between diabetes and sociological factors. Studies by the SHRC have reported significant relationships between diabetes and overweight; diabetes and low educational attainment; and diabetes and low socioeconomic status. Identifying potential causal factors for diabetes was the initial purpose of the SHRC. The purpose now is to implement a program that can reduce or prevent diabetes risk factors in youth from populations at-risk.

The SHRC operates The Bienestar Health Program in San Antonio, TX low-income neighborhoods. The Bienestar Health Program is a bilingual school-based health program that aims to decrease dietary fat, to increase physical fitness levels, to prevent obesity, and to prevent diabetes. The program is research-based and implements kindergarten through eighth grade learning activities from a Social Cognitive Theory. The children learn these health behaviors through five health programs: The Bienestar Health and P.E. Curriculum, The After School Health Club, the Family and Community Program, and the Cafeteria Program. With these programs, the children have shown to learn the importance of cutting down on fatty foods, increasing fiber intake, and exercising regularly. The Bienestar Health Program has had significant results and hopes to continue improving children's health education. The Bienestar Health Program is the only health program in Texas shown to modify the behavioral and biological risk factors associated with diabetes in at-risk children.