City of Port Arthur Health Department

04/10/2026

On behalf of the City of Port Arthur Health Department, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the “Women of Victory” from Call to Destiny International church for your generous donation to our Community Closet, “The Giving Tree.”

Your support is a meaningful contribution that will help us continue serving individuals and families in need within our community. We are truly grateful for your kindness, compassion, and commitment to making a difference.

Thank you again for your generosity and partnership in this important work.

04/06/2026

Hey teen guys! Come hang out with us this Thursday at the City of Port Arthur Health Department! We’re hosting a “Strong, Safe Communities” meetup that will share info on cool ways to get involved with the community, build personal and professional connections, and help keep our neighborhoods vibrant and thriving!

And bonus! You’ll get a chance to win a gift card worth $25-$100 🔥

This event is open to all teen guys between the ages of 13-18!

The details ⬇
📅 Thursday, April 9
⏰ 6:00 – 7:30 PM
📍 Port Arthur Health Department
📍 5860 9th Ave, Door #4, Port Arthur, TX

We hope to see you there!

Questions? Call us at (409) 983-8874.

03/25/2026

Last Friday, City of Port Arthur WIC hosted a meet and greet for local students interested in nutrition careers! Nutrition experts from across the community joined as mentors and sat down with students in small group chats, sharing their experiences, answering big questions, and helping lay the foundation for what comes next.

Students also enjoyed healthy DIY lunches made with WIC-approved foods and went home with gift bags packed with information on nutrition programs throughout our community. 💚

A huge shout out to our incredible mentors from Lamar University College of Nursing & Health Professions, UTMB, Southeast Texas Food Bank, City of Port Arthur Health Department, Hardin County Health Department, Port Arthur News, and the Port Arthur CVB (Visit Port Arthur, TX)! Thank you for giving your time and expertise to the next generation of nutrition pros!

And a very special thank you to Port Arthur ISD for bringing such amazing young people to the table! We can’t wait to see where they go next! 💚

02/10/2026

Port Arthur WIC is excited for an awesome 2026! During a planning session, our staff had conversations about leadership, team commitments, and new ways to support clients. Then, they merged personal and professional goals into beautiful vision boards that reflect a commitment to make the WIC program better than ever ✨

These boards will be a daily reminder to keep growing, keep improving, and stay focused on the families WIC serves 🩷

What are your goals for 2026? Comment below! ⬇️

01/27/2026

So grateful to Molina Healthcare of Texas for hosting the “Donuts & Diapers” event for local families last week! 💜 Staff from our Healthy Mothers & Babies of Jefferson County (HMBJC) team and the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program had the chance to connect with the community and share valuable safe infant sleep resources.

Events like these matter because face-to-face conversations with health professionals make such a huge difference. Safe infant sleep can feel overwhelming, especially for new parents or first-time caregivers. Having a space where families can ask real questions, get clear answers, and walk away feeling supported can truly be life changing.

Our staff shared safe sleep facts, gave out Sleep Baby Safe and Snug books (thank you, Charlie’s Kids!), and gave live demos on what a safe sleep environment looks like.

Thank you again to Molina Healthcare for hosting this incredible event and giving organizations like HMBJC and NFP the opportunity to connect with local families!

And a huge shout-out to our passionate staff who attended. Thank you for always advocating for moms and babies 💜
✨ Karla Quigley (NFP)
✨ Rosetta Lewis-Acrond (HMBJC)
✨ Brandy Patteson (WIC / HMBJC)

Want to grow your safe sleep confidence? HMBJC offers free safe infant sleep classes for all caregivers – moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or babysitters. If you have a little one in your life, this class is for you!

RSVP here: Safe Infant Sleep for Families 💙

01/07/2026

12/11/2025

On December 4, 2025, the Port Arthur Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) hosted a Christmas celebration for clients and their families at the Bob Bowers Civic Center. NFP is a home-visitation program in which nurses work one-on-one with first-time parents, helping them learn how to become the best parents they can be.

NFP moms and their families were treated to a dinner of chili and rice with all the fixings, deliciously catered by Darlean’s Mobile Food Truck. Families also enjoyed holiday-themed crafts, including making clear ornaments filled with paint and decorating wooden ornaments.

Santa Claus made an appearance with a jolly smile and a pack full of gifts for the children. Each child had the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap and receive a toy, a friendly laugh, and a warm “Ho Ho Ho.”

NFP moms participate in the program from early pregnancy until their child reaches age two. In addition to the Christmas celebration, this event was special because it honored ten of the families who completed the program in 2025. Their Nurse Home Visitor presented graduation certificates, and each child wore a graduation cap and gown to mark the accomplishment.

City of Port Arthur photographer Tiana Johnson was on hand to capture photos of the festivities and the graduation ceremony. Several members of the NFP Community Advisory Board also attended to show support and lend a helping hand.

To the seventy moms and their families, the Community Advisory Board members, and Santa Claus—who all braved cold and rainy weather—NFP staff extend a heartfelt thank you and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

12/05/2025

It’s GRINCHMAS time! 💚🎄 Join us this Saturday, Dec 6 from 10 AM – 1 PM at the Port Arthur Health Department (Door #8) for a FREE holiday celebration the whole family will love!

Here’s some festive fun happening at Grinchmas:
💚 Take a photo with Santa!
💚 Enjoy games, education, and activities for all ages!
💚 Christmas story time with the Port Arthur Public Library!
💚 and more!

Grinchmas 2025 details:
📅 Saturday, Dec 6
⏰ 10 AM – 1 PM
📍 Port Arthur Health Department (Door #8)
📍 5860 9th Ave, Door #8, Port Arthur, TX

This event is hosted by Port Arthur WIC in partnership with Port Arthur Health, Parks & Recreation, and the Port Arthur Public Library.

Plan to join us for Grinchmas? RSVP here: Grinchmas 2025! 🎄💚

11/19/2025

The City of Port Arthur Health Department recently completed a special outreach project to support individuals who lost their SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. Through the generous contributions of our staff and the collaboration of several city departments, we were able to provide 80 bags of groceries to families in need throughout our community.

A heartfelt thank you to Courtnee Williams, Endia James, and Rosetta Accrond for their outstanding dedication, including making multiple trips to the store and preparing each grocery bag with care. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the health department’s previous Health Director, Ms. Yoshi Alexander, and to all staff members who donated and assisted in making this food drive a success.

The City of Port Arthur Health Department wishes everyone a safe, warm, and Happy Holiday season.

11/10/2025

The Port Arthur Health Department will be closed this Tuesday, November 11, for Veterans Day. We will reopen on Wednesday, November 12.

11/08/2025

So happy to be part of Destiny Church's Community Baby Sprinkle today! This event brought local organizations together with pregnant moms in our community 💜

Port Arthur WIC/HMBJC Director Brandy Patteson and Nurse-Family Partnership Supervisor Karla Quigley had the opportunity to talk with moms one-on-one and connect them with resources for their specific needs. Each momma received an HMBJC gift basket with breastfeeding and safe infant sleep materials, plus info on mom-and-baby programs like WIC, Nurse-Family Partnership, and more!

We even ran into HMBJC coalition member Lene from Molina Healthcare! It was a wonderful day of connection and conversation, and we’re excited for many more to come!

Huge thank you to Destiny Church for hosting such an awesome event for moms and babies! 💜✨

11/08/2025

"When Port Arthur sisters, Judith Smith and Dianne Marks, both registered nurses, were diagnosed with breast cancer just a week apart in 2015, their world shifted overnight. But rather than letting fear take over, the sisters did what they’d done all their lives- they showed up, for their patients and for each other."

Port Arthur Health Director Judith Smith and her sister Dianne Marks share their breast cancer journey in this recent article from the Port Arthur News!

Read more about this story of "resilience, faith and sisterhood" here:

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... When Port Arthur sisters, Judith Smith and Dianne Marks, both registered nurses, were diagnosed with breast cancer just a week apart in 2015, their world shifted overnight. But rather than letting fear take over, the sisters did what they’d done all their...