Sí Texas - Juntos for Better Health Grant Offers Traveling Health Care Services

Free, primary medical care assessments and referrals to medical homes and mental health services can now come to a site near you, thanks to the Sí Texas - Juntos for Better Health Grant, Traveling Health Care Team (THCT), administered by the Texas A&M International University College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing.

Sí Texas - Juntos for Better Health grant principal investigator is Canseco School of Nursing Dean Dr. Glenda Walker, who said the THCT is a critical community outreach initiative that emphasizes primary screening and links to a medical home or mental health services. Primary screening is medical care assessment that includes glucose test, blood pressure, height, weight, BMI and behavioral health pre-screening. Service providers include Border Region Behavioral Health Center, City of Laredo Health Department and Gateway Community Health Center.       

“As part of our grant, the THCT provides accessible primary medical care assessments and referrals to medical homes and mental health services. The THCT provides pre-screening services at virtually any site that wishes to house us for the day,” Walker explained.

Sí Texas - Juntos for Better Health TAMIU director, Viviana Martínez, said the THCT is now operational and onsite visits and services for individuals 18 and over who are residents of Webb, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties can be scheduled through July 2018.  THCT services are offered free of charge.

“The THCT is already operational and we’re currently serving Bethany House, the Salvation Army, Laredo Housing Authority and local churches. We provide services Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and ask that the sites identify and bring 18-20 individuals for services.  We also have limited availability on evenings and weekends,” Martínez added.

To schedule on-site services by the Sí Texas - Juntos for Better Health Program THCT, please contact Roberto González, community outreach coordinator, at 956.206.4329.

TAMIU is a primary part of the inaugural cohort of the Sí Texas: Social Innovation for a Healthy South Texas Project, funded by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, the largest, private, faith-based funding source for healthcare services in South Texas, and a program of the Social Innovation Fund of the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Project includes organizations in the Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend.  The federal funding in Laredo is especially focused on depression, diabetes and obesity.

Additional information is available by contacting Martínez at the TAMIU College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing, 956.326.3276, email viviana.martinez@tamiu.edu or by visiting offices in the Canseco School of Nursing.

TAMIU summer office hours are from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday and from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Fridays. University information is also available online at tamiu.edu and on social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.