Cook Children’s and JPS Partner to Build New Health Care Center in Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Cook Children’s Health Care System and JPS Health Network are joining forces to bring critical health care services to children and families in the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood.
Leaders from both organizations are pleased to announce construction plans for the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center on 3.7 donated acres at the corner of Calmont Avenue and Cherry Lane in west Fort Worth. The center will provide pediatric and adult medical services, behavioral health services, and social services support such as food insecurity in the form of a food pantry, community education, and onsite job training for health care industry positions. With support from the City of Fort Worth, a Fort Worth Police Storefront will also be housed in the building to help foster police relations within the community.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and families in our community, and to do it side-by-side with incredible partners such as JPS, LVTRise and the City of Fort Worth,” said Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System. “It’s an honor to be part of the great revitalization of the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood and I look forward to the lasting legacy of this important work for generations to come.”
Cook Children’s Board of Directors approved the plan for the 40,000-square foot building in early May. A presentation was made to the JPS Health Network Board of Managers on May 11, followed by a presentation to the Tarrant County Commissioners Court on May 16.
“The JPS partnership with Cook Children’s and the City of Fort Worth symbolizes the significance of public, private partnerships. We look forward to serving these residents by providing health care and improving access in the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood,” said Dr. Karen Duncan, President and CEO of JPS Health Network.
The two-story building will include the ninth Cook Children’s Neighborhood Health Center and the newest JPS Medical Home. The facility will break ground later this year and an expected opening is slated for late 2025. Cook Children’s Health Foundation will spearhead funding for the project with the support of the philanthropic community.
“Advocating for access to comprehensive health care in the Las Vegas Trail area has been a priority of my tenure on the City Council,” said Michael D. Crain, Fort Worth City Councilmember, District 3. “I am grateful to Cook Children’s and JPS for understanding the need and embracing this unique partnership. The facility will be a testament to a continued focus on providing hope and healing for all of our residents.”
Since the closure of Carswell Air Force Base in the early 1990s, the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood has experienced high levels of crime and economic distress. It has also been identified as a health care desert, with residents lacking easy access to basic medical care.
“The opening of this clinic in LVT is literally a dream come true for all of those we serve in the LVT community,” said LVTRise Executive Director Paige Charbonnet. “Having wrap around health care and social services within walking distance will be transformational.”
In the LVT area, there are more than 20,000 children aged 0-14 with a 7% growth in this population expected by 2025. Currently, Cook Children’s Emergency Department and Urgent Care Clinics account for more than 4,000 annual visits from children in the 76116 and 76108 zip codes. Additionally, more than 7,000 members of Cook Children’s Health Plan live in these zip codes. Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center will allow Cook Children’s patients and Health Plan members to have a medical home for their health care needs that’s close to their own home.
The JPS Medical Home model allows patients to access care under one roof for convenience and efficiency. The new clinic will include primary care and behavioral health services, as well as other social support to address the socioeconomic needs of the community.
About Cook Children’s Health Care System
Cook Children’s is more than a health care system: we strive to be an extension of your family, growing with your child from their first steps to adulthood. By collaborating to deliver on our Promise—to improve the well-being of every child in our care and our communities, we connect the dots for our patients. Between primary and specialty. Between home and medical home. Between short-term care and long-term health.
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, we’re 8,000+ dedicated team members strong, passionately caring for over 1.5 million patient encounters each year. Our integrated, not-for-profit organization spans two medical centers (including our new, state-of-the-art location in Prosper), two surgery centers, a physician network, home health services and a health plan. It also includes Child Study Center at Cook Children's, Cook Children's Health Services Inc., and Cook Children's Health Foundation.
And our impact extends beyond the borders of Texas. We proudly treat children from virtually every state in the nation and 32 countries. By seeing the world through the eyes of children and their families from all backgrounds, we’re able to shape health care suited to them: connected by kindness, imagination and respect—with an extra dose of magical wonder.
Discover more at cookchildrens.org.
About JPS Health Network
The Tarrant County Hospital District, known as JPS Health Network, is a tax-supported organization serving the healthcare needs of families in Tarrant County. JPS provides adult inpatient care at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas and offers comprehensive services including primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy at more than 25 community locations. JPS has served as a Level I Trauma Center in Tarrant County for more than a decade. JPS is governed by an 11-member Board of Managers, whose members are appointed by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court.
JPS was named the Best Hospital for America by Washington Monthly magazine and the Lown Institute in 2020, and Outstanding Healthcare System by D CEO Magazine.
About City of Fort Worth
The City of Fort Worth began as a tiny outpost and today, thrives as the 13th largest city with more than 900,000 people. The City blends its cattle and oil heritage seamlessly with an ever-growing, diverse city of new businesses and industries. Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing large cities in the nation, focused on economic development growth, innovative transportation and mobility solutions, quality education opportunities, and building safer, more prosperous communities.
About LVTRise
LVT began as a mobile community center providing social services and access to resources for area residents after a series of Town Hall meetings uncovered significant deficiencies and a lack of resources in this part of the community. In 2018, the Las Vegas Trail Revitalization Project became the registered nonprofit currently known as LVTRise, Inc.
In October 2020, Rise Community Center opened to the public providing a permanent home for the organization. In January 2021, the city of Fort Worth opened a branch of the public library system in the community center furthering the resources available.
In May 2022, the Fort Worth City Council approved a land lease agreement that paved the way for a Las Vegas Trail Child Development Campus to become a reality for the high need community. Child Care Associates will build and operate the new facility that will be built adjacent to the existing Rise Community Center. Construction is estimated to start in fall of 2022 and is projected to take 18 months to build and finish out an eight classroom, approximately 8,600 SF child development facility. An estimated 100 children and their families will be served through Head Start and Early Head Start.
Since its inception, LVTRise has dedicated its work to collaborating with community partners, empowering community members through training and case management and impacting the Las Vegas Trail community addressing education, improved quality housing and reducing neighborhood crime.
For more information, visit LVTRise.org.
