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. The Office of Border Public Health (OBPH) builds community relationships to encourage a safe and healthy environment and lifestyle.

The OBPH:

• Tracks and shares data on public health issues and their impact
• Supports binational public health coalitions
• Conducts community-based initiatives
• Supports Community Health Workers (CHWs)

We believe that public health issues cross international borders and that the area along the U.S.-Mexico border is one epidemiological zone with shared health risk factors. We work together to keep Texas healthy by keeping our border healthy. 

In 1991, the 72nd Texas Legislature enacted the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 12,§12.071. The mandate stipulates, "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, New Mexico, Arizona, and California— have border health offices. 

Vision

A healthy Texas-Mexico border

Mission

To improve health and well-being along the Texas-Mexico border. 

• Actionable border data 
• Cross-border communication and coordination 
• Border-appropriate public health initiatives, promotion, and education 
• Strategic local, state, and federal partnerships 

OBPH Principles 

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) border area is the area within 100 kilometers (or 62 miles) of the Rio Grande. This definition comes from the La Paz Agreement of 1983. It includes the 32 Texas Border Counties listed below.

The Texas DSHS Border Area 

32 Texas Border Counties by DSHS Public Health Region