The City of Arlington Water Utilities Department can test drinking water for lead. Call 817-457-7550 for delivery of a prepared 1-liter bottle. The water collected must be obtained first thing in the morning before using, as the water has sat overnight and had time to collect residue from the pipes. Contaminated drinking water is most prevalent in homes that are ten years old and older.

Who can I call to see if my house has lead-based paint?

Unlike testing for lead in drinking water, the city does not test for lead-based paint. However, Lead Test Kits (Lead Check Swabs) are available for purchase in most area home improvement stores, such as, Home Depot, Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, and Ace Hardware for around $6.

What is the Arlington Human Services Planners organization?

The Arlington Human Services Planners (AHSP)-United Way is an organization funded by United Way and the city that assists in the research, planning, and implementation of health and social service needs of Arlington. It focuses on identifying emerging human service needs and facilitating citizen involvement in developing strategies to meet these needs which may range from early childhood diseases to elder care and teen pregnancy to employment issues. AHSP has conducted several studies on human services in Arlington. They have completed studies on elderly services, the homeless population, and youth services. To receive a copy of their studies or get additional information, contact AHSP at 817-548-9595.

What is the Arlington Human Service Center?

This complex, located at 401 West Sanford Street, is a one-stop center that houses over 16 different health and human services agencies which serve citizens in Southwest Tarrant County. These agencies include AIDS Outreach Center, Alzheimer’s Association of Tarrant County, Catholic Charities, Senior Citizens Services of Tarrant County, and West Texas Legal Clinic, to name a few. The agencies may be reached through their listing in the local phone book.

If you are in need of specific information about a human services need, call United Way’s First Call for Help at 817-258-8100.

Are there programs for senior citizens in Arlington?

The following is a brief list of some of the agencies offering services for the elderly. For specific individual requests, contact United Way’s First Call for Help at 817-258-8100.

Area Agency on Aging
817-258-8081
210 East 9th Street; Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Provides information and assistance, benefits counseling, ombudsman and case management for senior citizens.

Senior Recreation Center - Eunice
817-277-8091
1000 Eunice Street; Arlington, Texas 76010
Provides activities for health, health screening, health and nutrition education, physical fitness, legal clinics, confidential information and referral, volunteer opportunities, recreation and creative arts.

Senior Recreation Center-New York
817-460-5009
2105 Craig Hanking Drive; Arlington, Texas 76010
Provides activities for health and well-being including daily hot lunch, health screening, health and nutrition education, physical fitness, legal clinics, confidential information and referral, volunteer opportunities, recreation and creative arts.

Alzheimer’s Association of Tarrant County
817-460-7001
Arlington Office: 401 W. Sanford Street, Suite 200; Arlington, Texas 76011
Provides direct support and education for families dealing with this disease. There are support groups and monthly educational programs. The Family Care program conducts home visits to discuss area resources. The association offers telephone assistance to provide information, referrals and caregivers support. Educational programs include "The ABC’s of Alzheimer’s" and "As We Cope".

Handitran of Arlington
817-459-5390
501 West Sanford Street, Suite 10; Arlington, Texas 76011
Offers senior citizens and citizens with disabilities, door-to-door transportation in mini-buses and taxi cabs. HandiTran operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Trips may be scheduled up to six days in advance. The cost is $1.75 for each one-way trip, with an application fee of $10.00 upon sign-up.

Meals on Wheels Inc. of Tarrant County
817-277-3705
101 East North Street; Arlington, Texas 76011
Provides hot noon meals delivered to homebound elderly and disabled persons.

Mission Arlington Medical Equipment Closet
817-795-8303
2117 Roosevelt Drive, Suite B; Arlington, Texas 76013
Accepts and loans out at no cost durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers. Volunteers will pick up or deliver items.

Salvation Army Family Center
817-860-1836
712 West Abram Street; Arlington, Texas 76013
Provides activities for health and well-being such as; physical fitness, computer training and recreation. Hot lunches are served Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m.

Are there programs for citizens with special needs in Arlington?

Arlington Human Service Planners has a comprehensive list of agencies and programs that offer assistance to citizens with special needs in the city. For more information on the study, call them at 817-548-9595.

For specific requests, contact United Way’s First Call for Help at 817-258-8100 or the organizations listed below.

Some local organizations that provide service to citizens with special needs include:

Are there support groups for family members of citizens with special needs in Arlington?

Advocates for Special People, 817-261- 8523, provides information and other resources for services, recreation, training, and school to families of physically and mentally challenged citizens. Meets the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1400 South Cooper Street. Everyone is welcome and volunteers are available during the meetings to assist physically and mentally challenged individuals.

Who do I contact for questions regarding Medicaid or Medicare?

Medicare provides health insurance to over 39 million people 65 years old and older and those who are kidney transplant or dialysis patients. If you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States you are eligible for this coverage. If you or your spouse are under 65 years old, you are eligible for this coverage after 24 months of receiving Social Security disability checks, or if you are in the end stage of renal disease.

For more information contact the Health Care Financing Administration, in the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-633-4227 or visit their website at www.medicare.gov.

Medicaid is a jointly-funded, federal-state health insurance program for certain low-income and needy people. It covers approximately 36 million individuals including children, the aged, blind, and /or disabled, and people who are eligible to receive federally assisted income maintenance payments, such as, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), through the local Texas Department of Human Services at 817-461-8273, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), through the federal Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.

For more information, call 817-461-8273.

Who do I contact for questions regarding Social Security?

Social Security pays benefits to retirees, survivors, and to those disabled. Social Security provides retirement for people 62 years old and older. It also pays benefits to survivors of deceased workers. Survivor benefits are paid to children under age 18, a child that is 19 and still in high school, or a child 18 or older who becomes disabled before age 22. A widow(er) caring for children under the age 16 may receive benefits also. Additionally, a widow(er) age 60 or older may receive benefits.

The City of Arlington Vital Statistics Bureau can provide a certified copy of births occurring in Texas.

The cost is $23.00 per copy and a photo identification of the applicant is required. The office is open Monday through Friday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and is located at 101 S. Mesquite St. Arlington, Texas 76010. For any additional information, call 817-459-6777.

Where do I get a death certificate?

If the death occurred in Arlington after April 15, 1971, you can obtain a death certificate at the Office of Vital Statistics located at 101 S. Mesquite St. Arlington, Texas 76010. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy. For more information, contact the Office of Vital Statistics at 817-459-6777.

For deaths that occurred in Arlington prior to April 15, 1971, you must obtain a copy of the death certification through the State Bureau of Vital Statistics. Contact their office at 512-458-7111 for more information.