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A Kids' "Care-Van." Hospital's mobile health program provides screenings for neighborhood children
1Franciscan Children's Hospital & Rehabilitation Center, Boston.
Insights
Franciscan Children's Hospital's Kids' Care-Van addresses healthcare access barriers for immigrant and minority children in Boston. The mobile clinic provides crucial screenings and health education, identifying urgent dental needs in 70% of young patients.
Area of Science:
- Community Health
- Pediatric Healthcare Access
- Mobile Health Services
Background:
- Allston-Brighton neighborhood has a high population of immigrants and minority groups.
- These populations face significant economic, cultural, and linguistic barriers to healthcare.
- A community survey identified specific needs for the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), health education, and dental care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the Kids' Care-Van initiative.
- To improve healthcare access for underserved children in the Allston-Brighton community.
- To identify and address critical health needs, particularly dental care.
Main Methods:
- The Kids' Care-Van provides mobile medical and dental screenings at community locations like schools and Head Start programs.
- Referrals are made for children requiring further medical or dental attention.
- Health education on prevention and wellness is provided to children and parents.
Main Results:
- Over 2,500 children have been served by the Kids' Care-Van.
- Approximately 70% of screened children require urgent dental care.
- Significant barriers to accessing affordable dental care persist for many families.
Conclusions:
- The Kids' Care-Van effectively reaches underserved children and identifies critical health needs.
- Urgent dental care needs are prevalent, highlighting a gap in accessible and affordable services.
- Continued advocacy and partnerships are essential to secure resources for ongoing care.
Abstract:
Last year Franciscan Children's Hospital & Rehabilitation Center in Boston launched a "Kids' Care-Van" in an attempt to better serve the children of its community. That community, the city's Allston-Brighton neighborhood, is the home of many immigrants and minority group members, people likely to face economic, cultural, and linguistic barriers when seeking healthcare. A survey showed that neighborhood children especially needed better access to the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), health education, and dental care. The Kids' Care-Van regularly tours Allston-Brighton, making stops at schools, Head Start programs, day care centers, a youth club, and the local YMCA. At those stops children are given medical and dental screenings; if needed, referrals are made to other healthcare sources. Parents, children, and adolescents are also given information about prevention and wellness. To date, 2,500 neighborhood children have been served. Approximately 70 percent have been found to be in urgent need of dental care, a serious problem because many Allston-Brighton parents cannot afford to pay for such care. Few Boston dentists accept Medicaid payment, and there are no other state or federal resources. The van program's manager is currently negotiating with area universities and lobbying local members of the State legislature in hopes of getting some assistance.
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