Coalition welcomes aboard Michelle Rincon
Thursday, September 17, 2020; Las Cruces, NM: Native Las Crucian, Michelle Rincon has joined the Center for Health Innovation (CHI), New Mexico’s Public Health Institute. Her expertise will support CHI’s prevention efforts at the Unified Prevention Coalition for Doña Ana County (UP!C).
“Michelle has a history of working with health councils and community coalition,” said Alyssa Myrick, CHI Prevention Programs Manager. “Her past efforts will forge stronger collaboration in Doña Ana County.”
Currently, CHI administers five community coalitions focused on prevention in Cibola, Doña Ana, Grant, Luna and Roosevelt Counties. These coalitions work to address youth substance misuse through environmental strategies and policy changing efforts led by invested community members.
“I’ve always stayed in Doña Ana County, because of the culture,” said Rincon. “This is a place I’ve loved calling home. The people here are so kind and supportive.”
A graduate of New Mexico State University (NMSU), Rincon received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish Linguistics which she hopes to use to engage more of the county’s Spanish-speaking residents. “We want to prioritize translating all UP!C materials to better reach our community.”
“After graduation I worked with veterans. Many of them were dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder which sparked my interest in behavioral health,” said Rincon who returned to NMSU to seek a masters certificate in public health, but instead left with a public health master’s degree with an integrated behavioral health component including credentialed as a certified health education specialist (CHES).
During her internship, Rincon worked with the Otero County Community Health Council and served on the New Mexico Senate Memorial 44 Taskforce, which identified steps to strengthen county and tribal health councils.
“I want to accomplish all the same the goals UP!C has,” Rincon says on why she chose to join the coalition as a program specialist.
Rincon focused much of her career on substance use disorders in youth and adults, which is UP!C priority work in the community. “The coalition is working on reducing behavioral health risk factors in the county to keep youth from turning to substance use that could impact their future health like alcohol, marijuana or opioids.”
The coalition is also educating parents and guardians on the importance of securely storing their medications to protect it from misuse or abuse. The effort is funded by the New Mexico Office of Substance Abuse Prevention.
Though her position started during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rincon has not let it deter her enthusiasm, “It’s a little intimidating and challenging, but I’m excited to try new and innovative ways to reach our community!”
“I want to make community lives of Doña Ana County healthier by sharing information and engaging in community prevention,” Rincon said.
For more information contact Rincon at (575) 597-0042 or email: mrincon@chi-phi.org.
