The Hispanic Center (El Centro Hispano) in Jonesboro recently added three new Spanish-speaking community health workers in partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC). 

Anita Acosta, Ricardo Terreaux, and Fabiola Diaz will be available at the Hispanic Center to help people navigate the health care system in the county, including providing education and resources. The team of three will also be available to answer basic health questions, including information about vaccination, as Arkansas enters the next stage of the pandemic.  

Acosta, Terreaux, and Diaz will be available to answer simple healthcare-related or vaccine-related questions at 870-582-5415.

“We’re also excited to work with AFMC, El Centro Hispano, and the Craighead County community as we work to create a better state of health for all people in Arkansas,” said Stephanie Kruger, associate director of community programs in the UAMS Office of Community Health & Research in a press release from UAMS. 

According to the press release, the Hispanic Center’s addition of community health workers was supported as part of a $9.8 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The community health workers at the Hispanic Center join four other health workers helping the community of Craighead County. Colby Binkley and Tina Hall are available at The Medicine Shoppe at 870-935-1340. Whitney Pennington can be reached at the McFarlin Pharmacy at 870-486-5220. 

And finally, Jessica Nash works with the Southern Pharmacy of Arkansas and can be reached at 870-972-1751.

The UAMS Community Health Worker project seeks to connect health workers from the community with the people they serve and help community members access health and social services. The program includes health workers serving the Spanish and Marshallese-speaking community members. 

To find a community health worker near you, visit: https://nwa.uams.edu/chr/programs/community-programs/community-health-workers/