Build-a-Bridge

Build-a-Bridge™ strengthens connections between children and families to health care professionals and community resources. This helps encourage better overall health and well-being.

Our Community Health Workers (CHWs) can work with you to support your child & family. They can help you tackle barriers to care, bridge connections to pediatricians, link to community resources, prepare for well-child appointments, and discuss the importance of developmental screenings including what to do if concerned.

Submit a request for our team to contact you

Submit a request for services

Once a form is submitted you will be contacted to discuss your specific needs.

If you have any questions or would like information about our program, please email build-a-bridge@cookchildrens.org.

What is the Caregiver Alliance?

The Caregiver Alliance is where parents and caregivers can connect, find encouragement and support in order to strengthen families overall wellbeing. We currently offer in person meetings once a month and strive to create a safe, judgement free space for parents and caregivers. A meal and child care is provided at each meeting.

How can I participate?

Contact Julien Ybarra at Julien.Ybarra@cookchildrens.org.

It is never too early to look for a pediatrician that is right for you. Choosing a pediatrician before your baby is born will help you feel confident about your baby's care. Plus, knowing you have chosen the right doctor will help you feel calmer and more in control.

From your baby's long-awaited arrival until those first days of school, you'll be visiting the doctor regularly to make sure that your child is healthy and developing well. These check-ups are essential to ensure appropriate physical and mental development, and to provide vaccinations to prevent serious bacterial and viral illnesses.

You may be wondering:

How often do I need to schedule these appointments?
What will happen at these annual check ups?
What else can pediatricians help me with?

This is why we created the "Raising Healthy Kids" video series so you can hear directly from pediatricians.

Raising Healthy Kids | Why my child needs regular check ups || ACEs

In this video you will learn how often you need to take your baby or child to the doctor.

Raising Healthy Kids | What to expect at a check up || ACEs

In this video you will learn what to expect during these appointments and how your doctor can be a helpful resource for you as your child grows.

Raising Healthy Kids | How to prepare for a check up || ACEs

In this video you will learn what to expect during these appointments and how your doctor can be a helpful resource for you as your child grows.

Milestones matter! Track your child's milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) easy-to-use illustrated checklists, get tips from CDC for encouraging your child's development, and find out what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.

Download the CDC milestone tracking app
"Concerned about development, how to get help for your child" tip sheet
The CDC’s milestone tracker: A demonstration for caregivers

The CDC’s milestone tracker: A demonstration for caregivers

Text "FIND" to 67629 to find information for nearby organizations and agencies offering social services and other support.

TXT4 Tarrant Cares

Help Me Grow - Connect to child development services and other community-based resources within your area.
211 - View information or referrals to local resources. You can also dial (2-1-1) to access this information.
Behavioral Health - Access to behavioral health services and resources.

Meet Our Team

Breanna Anderson

Program Manager

"It takes a village to raise a child"- this saying is at the heart of how I approach all of our work with Build-a-Bridge. Raising children is the hardest and most important job anyone can take on and I don't believe caregivers should have to do it alone. I have been in the non-profit healthcare sector for 10 years, the majority of that time I have had the pleasure of working directly in the community. I am a proud aunt of 9 nephews and nieces and love getting to see how they thrive when they receive the medical, mental health, and school support they need- but I also see how much advocacy it takes on their parents part in order to ensure they have the opportunity to be their best selves. That's what my hope is for Build-a-Bridge, that we can equip the amazing caregivers in our community with the resources, support, and encouragement they need to help their children thrive.

Julien Ybarra, CHE

Program Coordinator

For the last thirteen years I’ve spent my career in community health roles, working directly with communities, families and people from all walks of life, connecting them to resources and services needed. Focusing in a variety of environments including: homelessness, foster-care, mental health concerns, substance misuse issues and HIV/STI services; the spectrum of roles I’ve held have made me adept to being able to serve the families and communities where I live and work. Being an uncle, brother, and raised in a single-parent household, this showed me how much work, strength and sacrifice it takes to be a caregiver for children. These experiences led me to focus my education on community health and apply my lived experiences into my professional life. "The beauty of my life is finding people and places that have otherwise been overlooked or forgotten by society. The privilege is, being able to tell their stories.”

LaToya Jones, CHW

Community Health Worker

I'm a Fort Worth native and have over 13 years' experience working with families, children and individuals that require advocacy services. My work, life experiences as well as my Community Health Worker training has equipped me for my current role as a CHW with The Center for Children's Health. My unique interpersonal relationship with not only my community but with others has led me to doing what I love.

Build-a-Bridge

Submit a request for our team to contact you

Caregiver Alliance

What is the Caregiver Alliance?

How can I participate?

Choosing a pediatrician

Well child and well baby medical appointments