Answering Big Questions
There are many questions about hunger in El Paso. Kelly’s Research institute on Poverty, Hunger and Food Insecurity tries to look deeper into root causes, mediation strategies and program evaluations.
With insight from our Research Advisory Board, Kelly collaborates on research with the University of Texas at El Paso and the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank in a multi-disciplinary approach to increasing resiliency in our community.
Research In Process
Kelly’s access to individuals who have “lived experience” with hunger and food insecurity in El Paso makes us a strong partner for researchers. The following research is currently being conducted at Kelly and/or leveraging Kelly collected client data:
Reducing Mental Health Disparities for Hispanic Adults in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region through a Community-Grounded Mental Health Engagement Program
Recipients of the inaugural Sobel-Duncan Health Disparities Research Award, Dr. Jason Mallonee at The University of Texas at El Paso, Dr. Eden Robles at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, and Dr. Nancy Ramirez at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are collaborating to develop an innovative mental health engagement program to reduce barriers to seeking help for mental health conditions and accessing services. The long-term goal of this research is to reduce mental health treatment disparities experienced by Hispanic adults in the border region. The research team will engage stakeholders, including recipients of mental health services, in the development and implementation of this pilot study, which will take place at the Kelly Center from November 2022 to June 2023. The research team will assess the program’s effectiveness at reducing mental health stigma, eliminating barriers to accessing services, and increasing the likelihood of people with mental health conditions seeking and accessing services. Read more about this study here: https://www.utep.edu/newsfeed/2022/utep-ttuhsc-el-paso-study-focuses-on-hispanic-mental-health-disparities.html.
Completed Research
The following completed research was conducted leveraging Kelly data:
“Something very taboo”: a qualitative exploration of beliefs, barriers, and recommendations for improving mental health care and access for Hispanic adults in the Paso del Norte U.S.-Mexico border region
Jason Mallonee, Rosa Escalante, Eden Hernandez Robles, Christal Tucker
Frontiers in Public Health
Published: 1 June 2023

FreshStart: Analyzing Program Outcomes & Identifying Those In Need
Infographic in English y en Español
Dr. Jason Mallonee
Presented: 22 February 2023
Barriers to SNAP enrollment in El Paso County
Leah Whigham, Gabriela A. Gallegos
University of Texas – School of Public Health, El Paso
Presented: April 26, 2021
An Outcome Evaluation of Food Pantries Implementing the More than Food Framework
Jessica Sanderson, Katie S. Martin, Angela G. Colantonio & Rong Wu
Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition
Published online: 10 April 2020
Emotional Distress and Maternal Health among Pregnant Latinas at the Intersections of Immigration and Health Policy on the US-Mexico Border
Carina Heckert
Report prepared for Latino Center for Leadership Development-Tower Center at Southern Methodist University
Published: July 1999
Offering More Than Food: Outcomes and Lessons Learned from a Fresh Start food pantry in Texas
Katie S. Martin, Alisha Redelfs, Rong Wu, Olivia Bogner & Leah Whigham
Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition
Published online: September 5, 2018
Related Research
This additional research helps illustrate the challenges of hunger and food insecurity in the Borderland.

Evidence-Based Planning to Address Injustices: Using Research to Identify the Root Causes of Poverty and Build Food Security Equity in El Paso
Gregory S. Schober, Eva M. Moya, April T. Ansari, Trianna Bergstrand, Mariana Paredes Vargas, Valery Lopez
Published online 17 May 2023

Analysis of Food and Housing Insecurity among University Students at a Public Hispanic-Serving Institution
Eva M. Moya, Amy Wagler, Jessica Ayala, Matt Crouse, Araceli Garcia & Gregory S. Schrober
Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition
Published online: 18 May 2022

Food and housing security at a US Hispanic-Serving Institution: An examination before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Amy Wagler, Gregory S. Schober, Silvia M Chavez-Baray, Jessica Ayala, Paul R. Dessauer and Eva M. Moya
Frontiers in Public Health
Published 27 July 2022