Gracie Camarena joined CDF-Texas’ Rio Grande Valley office in 2012. As a Child Health Outreach Program Director, Gracie works with families, schools and community partners to connect uninsured children with affordable health coverage.
Prior to joining CDF, Gracie spent 18 years in public health and social services in a variety of outreach and administrative roles, including 10 years as a Camp Health Aide / Promotora de Salud both in Michigan and South Texas. In 2002, Gracie was the first State of Texas Community Health Worker Promotora de Salud to be certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services. She considers it a blessing to be able to inform, educate and make a difference in the lives of children and families by improving access to care in Texas’ vulnerable border communities.
A member of the Phi Alpha Mu Honor Society, Gracie graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Texas Pan American at Edinburg. She is a mother of three, grandmother of three, and lives in Weslaco.