From Research to Action: A Roadmap for a Healthier Texas
When & Where
October 20, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Virtual - Microsoft Teams ( View in Google Map)
Contact
- Kirsten Aguilar
- 5123912500
- [email protected]
Event Description
As Texas prepares for the 90th Legislative Session in 2027, public health researchers, advocates, and community partners have an important role in ensuring that policy discussions are informed by credible evidence and the needs of Texas children and families. This webinar will highlight the Partnership for a Healthy Texas and its collaborative work to develop and advance evidence-based policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Presenters will discuss how the Partnership brings together organizations and experts from across the state to identify policy opportunities, engage key audiences, and promote healthier outcomes for Texans.
The webinar will also introduce the Texas Research-to-Policy Collaboration (TX RPC) Project and its nonpartisan approach to connecting health researchers with Texas policymakers. Participants will learn about tools and resources developed and implemented by the TX RPC Project to provide legislators with timely, accessible, and policy-relevant research. Examples will address child-centered public health topics including school health, family and child health, nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco prevention and cessation. Together, these initiatives demonstrate how research translation, strategic partnerships, and sustained engagement can help inform public health policy in Texas.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe the complementary roles of the Partnership for a Healthy Texas and the Texas Research-to-Policy Collaboration Project in supporting evidence-informed public health policy.
- Identify key child-centered public health topics and policy opportunities being considered in preparation for the 90th Texas Legislative Session.
- Explain how research-to-policy tools and resources can translate public health evidence into timely, accessible, and relevant information for legislators and other policy audiences.
Speakers
Clayton Travis, MSSW
Director of Advocacy and Health Policy, Texas Pediatric Society
Joel Romo
President and Founder
Texana Public Affairs
Shelby Flores-Thorpe, PhD, MEd, CHES
Postdoctoral Fellow, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health - NCI Cancer Control Research Training Program
Moderator
Deanna Hoelscher, PhD, RDN, LD, CNS, FISBNPA
Austin Regional Dean and John P. McGovern Professor of Health Promotion, Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin
Continuing Education
- This webinar is approved for 1.0 Entry-Level CHES/MCHES® credits! The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living is a Designated Provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists/Master Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES/MCHES®) through The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC®).
Event Site Link
https://go.uth.edu/tx-health-roadmap
As Texas prepares for the 90th Legislative Session in 2027, public health researchers, advocates, and community partners have an important role in ensuring that policy discussions are informed by credible evidence and the needs of Texas children and families. This webinar will highlight the Partnership for a Healthy Texas and its collaborative work to develop and advance evidence-based policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Presenters will discuss how the Partnership brings together organizations and experts from across the state to identify policy opportunities, engage key audiences, and promote healthier outcomes for Texans.
The webinar will also introduce the Texas Research-to-Policy Collaboration (TX RPC) Project and its nonpartisan approach to connecting health researchers with Texas policymakers. Participants will learn about tools and resources developed and implemented by the TX RPC Project to provide legislators with timely, accessible, and policy-relevant research. Examples will address child-centered public health topics including school health, family and child health, nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco prevention and cessation. Together, these initiatives demonstrate how research translation, strategic partnerships, and sustained engagement can help inform public health policy in Texas.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe the complementary roles of the Partnership for a Healthy Texas and the Texas Research-to-Policy Collaboration Project in supporting evidence-informed public health policy.
- Identify key child-centered public health topics and policy opportunities being considered in preparation for the 90th Texas Legislative Session.
- Explain how research-to-policy tools and resources can translate public health evidence into timely, accessible, and relevant information for legislators and other policy audiences.
Speakers
Clayton Travis, MSSW
Director of Advocacy and Health Policy, Texas Pediatric Society
Joel Romo
President and Founder
Texana Public Affairs
Shelby Flores-Thorpe, PhD, MEd, CHES
Postdoctoral Fellow, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health - NCI Cancer Control Research Training Program
Moderator
Deanna Hoelscher, PhD, RDN, LD, CNS, FISBNPA
Austin Regional Dean and John P. McGovern Professor of Health Promotion, Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin
Continuing Education
- This webinar is approved for 1.0 Entry-Level CHES/MCHES® credits! The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living is a Designated Provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists/Master Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES/MCHES®) through The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC®).