Jessica Hampton, 34, has often avoided seeing doctors because she doesn’t trust the treatment she’s receiving.
Hampton said she often felt like her medical concerns as a Black woman weren’t being listened to by health care providers.
“Every time I’ve had a new doctor in my life, I’ve always been really frustrated,” she said.
But Hampton’s experience changed four years ago when she started receiving primary care at Arlington Community Health Center on North Cooper Street. The staff were very calm and helpful, she said.
Since 2015, Arlington Health Center has provided affordable health and vision services to residents regardless of income, employment, insurance status, location, or ability to pay.
Previously, health centers were forced to limit services and patient intake due to limited space. Now, thanks to the move, its capabilities have been expanded.
Arlington Community Health Center officially welcomed the public with its grand opening on Oct. 7 in its new location in the Vandergriff Building, adjacent to Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital.
The new 1,200 square foot facility, located at 1001 N. Waldrop Drive, will provide more space for current services and allow for expansion of women’s health, adult health and pediatric care.
The Arlington Clinic is one of three facilities operated by Community Health Centers in the North Texas Area. The other two are Northside Community Health Center and Southeast Community Health Center, both in Fort Worth.
These centers receive federal funding to provide health care in areas considered to be underserved. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, Texas had more residents without health insurance than any other state.
In 2023, the three clinics treated more than 13,000 patients in Tarrant County.
What services are offered at North Texas Area Community Health Center?
Services include adult primary care, pediatric care, women’s health, behavioral health, routine vaccines, health education, and testing services. The Northside store includes a pharmacy and an eye care facility.
The change in location in Arlington will also allow the center to refer and accept patients from Texas Health Arlington’s emergency room.
“We’re very happy to be able to be in this building. We were able to be here because of Texas Medical Resources. They know we’re doing a good job and we’re in this area. We recognize that we are taking care of people,” Jerry Whitaker, president and CEO of North Texas Regional Community Health Center, said at the Oct. 7 opening ceremony. spoke.
Arlington District 8 City Councilwoman Barbara Odom-Wesley said she is excited about the new clinic and hopes to see a second health center open in East Arlington in the future.
“I told Jerry we weren’t done yet, we needed a second location,” she said at the Oct. 7 grand opening. “Thank you for providing this service to the citizens of Arlington.”


When Hampton first heard about Arlington Community Health Center’s location change, she was a little nervous. She doesn’t like change, she said.
But when Hampton visited the new health center, she felt relieved.
“I’m very grateful to the health center. It’s only when I was an adult that they actually listened to me,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many times I cried because I felt valued.”
David Moreno is a health reporter for The Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports.
At The Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independent of board members and financial supporters. Learn more about our editorial independence policy.
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