DFW Region

Collin * Dallas * Fannin * Grayson * Hunt * Kaufman * Rockwall * Tarrant

DFW Region

Expanding Access. Building Connections. Strengthening Communities.

The Texas AHEC East – DFW Region works to expand access to healthcare and improve community health across North Texas. Through partnerships, education, and workforce development, we help connect people, providers, and resources to build a stronger, healthier region.

Our work is grounded in collaboration. Recent community partnerships include the DFW Community Health Worker (CHW) Association, Ventanilla de Salud, Tarrant County Public Health, and Foremost Family Health Centers, among others. Together, we address local health needs, share knowledge, and empower individuals to make informed health decisions.

Home to more than 7 million residents, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is one of the most diverse and rapidly growing areas in the United States.

  • Over 4.5 million people live in Dallas and Tarrant Counties alone.

  • Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the nation.

  • The region hosts leading universities, including UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT Southwestern, TCU, and SMU.

  • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport ranks as the second-largest airport in the U.S. and sixth-largest worldwide.

  • Two of the five largest regional employers—Texas Health Resources and Baylor Health Care System—are in the healthcare sector, highlighting the region’s strength in medical innovation and service delivery.

Programs

Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification & Continuing Education

The Promotor(a) / Community Health Worker Training and Certification Program provides statewide leadership in establishing training standards and certification for CHWs and CHW instructors.

The DFW Region is a state-certified training site, offering both:

  • 160-hour CHW Certification Courses, and

  • Continuing Education (CE) opportunities for practicing CHWs and instructors.

Our goal is to prepare community health workers with the knowledge, leadership, and practical skills to support high-needs communities and strengthen the local healthcare system.

Health Education
AHEC works with various community partners to provide health education opportunities and to help increase access to health resources to those in high-needs areas and communities.
Certification and Continuing Education
Texas AHEC East DFW Region provides state-certified certification classes and continuing education opportunities for Community Health Workers, who are vital to helping high-needs communities access the healthcare.
Free Health Checks
AHEC volunteers and others at the Ventanilla de Salud provide free health checks and health education presentations to people waiting in the Mexican Consulate in Dallas.
Matthew Britt

Alyson Whitefield
Director

With her MPA in Public Administration and her ability as a Licensed Master Social Worker, specifically in mental health and substance abuse, Alyson Whitefield brings a valuable set of skills to the organization. She is particularly interested in creating health equity in underserved populations, which aligns well with the mission of AHEC. As a previous 2 year AHEC Scholar graduate and background in the nonprofit sector, in areas such as database management, data evaluation and analysis, program development, and continuing education, she hopes contribute significantly to the growth and success of the AHEC program.

2922-B Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75215

Phone: 214-738-7523
Email:  alyson.whitefield@txaheceast.org

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