Cook Children's Health Plan Deepens Commitment to North Texas Families During Healthy Texan Week

Cook Children's Health Plan (CCHP) is demonstrating its deep-rooted commitment to the well-being of North Texans this week by addressing access to healthy food for families in Arlington.

CCHP joined forces with the Tarrant Area Food Bank, Arlington Independent School District (AISD), and the American Heart Association at a three-day event held at AISD Food and Nutrition Services from May 6 - 8. The partnership event, which was a first for the organizations, served as a one-stop hub, offering families application assistance for programs like Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), as well as education and resources focused on healthy living.

For CCHP, the focus on nutrition during Texas Health and Human Services’ Healthy Texan Week underscores a fundamental belief that access to nutritious food is a cornerstone of good health.

"Cook Children’s Health Plan is more than just a Medicaid provider. We live in the community we serve and know first-hand the struggles families face,” said Blanca Rodriguez, manager of Community Marketing Department of Member Services at CCHP. “Food insecurity is a significant challenge in North Texas, and we are dedicated to finding innovative ways to support families in accessing the healthy food they need."

Addressing food security is not new for CCHP. In 2023, the health plan funded the R.E.D. Mobile grocery store (Resource and Education Delivered), a truck that brings free, nutritious food directly to underserved neighborhoods in Denton, Wise, and Cooke Counties. A similar truck, known as the R.E.D. Bus, was also parked at the event this week in Arlington.

As Eleanor Rakestaw, director of community resources at TAFB, explains, the R.E.D. initiative goes beyond simply handing out groceries.

“Our primary goal for the R.E.D. Bus is to provide education, resources, and assist with SNAP applications, so that we can help families purchase their own food and groceries in the future,” said Rakestaw. “It’s about empowering the people we serve to achieve long-term food security.”

For Cook Children's Health Care System as a whole, the link between food access and health is a major focus. Earlier this year, Cook Children’s Center for Community Health announced its funding of the new Healthy Food Hub at the Eastside YMCA in Fort Worth.

“We’re grateful to collaborate with other community organizations to keep hearts and bodies healthy,” said Hilda Colunga, Community Impact Director at the American Heart Association in North Texas. “Providing healthy recipes and nutrition resources aligns with our mission to improve cardiovascular and overall health and well-being of everyone everywhere.”

This week’s events in Arlington are a key example of how CCHP differs from for-profit insurance companies – who CCHP members may soon be forced to enroll with if the Texas Legislature doesn’t act soon.

As a nonprofit organization, CCHP channels resources back into local needs – not out-of-state shareholders. These not only include programs addressing food insecurity but also outreach efforts focused on asthma, drowning prevention, gun safety, and nine Neighborhood Health Centers. These centers provide physical, behavioral, and dental health services to children in underserved areas of Tarrant County.

The loss of Cook Children's Health Plan would mean losing a trusted community partner that pours resources back into the local ecosystem. Taxpayer dollars allocated for Medicaid would be redirected to for-profit insurance companies, many based outside of Texas, who prioritize shareholders rather than local families.

“Cook Children’s Health Plan is more than health coverage. It’s a community where you are taken care of,” said Rodriguez.

Texas lawmakers have until June 2 to pass a bill that would allow CCHP to remain operating. Learn more at savecookchildrenshealthplan.com.