The purpose of the Hispanic Wellness Fair is to provide free health education and services. In 1998, the City of Fort Worth community assessment revealed several factors impacting the health of Hispanics. Limited access to health care due to lack of health insurance, chronic diseases, lack of transportation, no telephones, language barriers, and lower levels of education were contributing factors for the defcient state of health among Hispanics in Fort Worth.

Results on the percentages of those lacking health insurance were overwhelming. Almost one half of the population in Fort Worth without health insurance was Hispanic. Among the most common health problems in the Hispanic household, diabetes was the highest chronic disease reported.

Lack of exercise, high cholesterol diets, and lack of education were also some factors that were found among the interviewed population. These are considered attributable factors to the increase of early onset of diabetes and other chronic diseases.