March 30, 2021
(Austin) – Central Health, in partnership with Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Colony Park community members, re-opened the Northeast Health Resource Center (NEHRC) at Barbara Jordan Elementary.
The NEHRC originally opened in 2018 at Volma Overton Elementary as a joint effort between Central Health, Travis County Health and Human Services and Austin Public Health. However, officials knew the site wasn’t ideal as a permanent location.
“With help and input from our partners, we chose this new location to increase the visibility of the center and increase access to its services,” Central Health President & CEO Mike Geeslin said. “This center is part of Central Health’s ongoing expansion of services in Eastern Travis County – and we have more ahead.”
Colony Park has the highest rates of mortality, morbidity and chronic diseases in Travis County, and is projected to have 30% of families living in poverty by 2022—higher than Travis County’s 12%.
“With this community collaboration, we can improve the lives of people living in Colony Park,” Barbara Scott, Colony Park Neighborhood Association, community member, and advocate said. “It also shows the progress of our efforts to improve health and increase social services in northeast Travis County.”
Based on Central Health’s community needs analysis, NEHRC will offer:
• Medical Access Program (MAP) and MAP BASIC enrollment assistance
• Primary Care Services through the CommUnityCare Mobile Unit
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Services
• In-person and virtual community resources and referrals
“Health outcomes impact educational outcomes,” Barbara Jordan Elementary School Principal Adrienne Williams said. “We are thankful to everyone involved for bringing much needed services to our families.”
According to Central Health’s Demographic Report (www.centralhealth.net/our-work/2020-demographic-report/), Colony Park, Hornsby Bend and Del Valle were identified as areas of need, lacking access to resources like health care, transportation, healthy food and more. Central Health is currently in the planning and public input phase for Del Valle and Hornsby Bend facilities, both of which are anticipated to break ground late this year.
The NEHRC is at Barbara Jordan Elementary, 6711 Johnny Morris Road, Austin, TX 78724. Services are available 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday To schedule an appointment at the NEHRC center, please call 512-978-8680 or visit http://centralhealth.net/our-work/expansion/nehrc/ for additional information.
Central Health and CommUnityCare also offer clinical services through the mobile clinic next to the NEHRC at Barbara Jordan Elementary 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
