Our Partners in Prevention
The C.E. Mendez Foundation partners with community organizations and research institutions to build the knowledge base to improve our work and make a positive impact. Here are some of our key partners in this work.
USF Institute for Translational Research
The Institute for Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health is a joint program between the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health and the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. It is a National Institute on Drug Abuse funded research education program allowing graduate-level scholars to carry out their research in a tangible setting. Mendez Foundation researchers and curriculum developers work closely with the institute and its scholars to study the real world implementation of behavioral health programs and interventions to understand the gap between research and practice. Each year, student cohorts from the institute examine areas of implementation to understand the barriers to the fidelity of implementation as well as the areas where successful strategies have yielded replicable results.
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Our commitment to prevention education began in the late 1970s when we recognized the need for prevention education to address substance use. We responded with the development of innovative prevention programming designed to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors related to the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Through our 45 year relationship with the Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Florida the Mendez Foundation’s team of Prevention Specialists delivers the Too Good programs to school students district-wide.
Gasparilla Distance Classic Association
The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association, established in 1978, is a nonprofit organization dedicated specifically to raising funds for charitable youth organizations and running programs in the Tampa Bay area. Its mission is carried out through the administration of the annual Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend and Jr. Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa. Since 1991, the C.E. Mendez Foundation has supported the Publix Mendez Foundation Junior Gasparilla Distance Classic bringing children and families together to demonstrate their commitment to healthy living.
