Since 1999, Lucille Packard’s Adolescent Teen Health Van has been parking in front of 375 Eddy St., at Indochinese Housing Development Corporation's youth-serving summer programming site. The mobile clinic offers a monthly five-hour window of free comprehensive healthcare services for uninsured and underinsured youth and young adults of the Tenderloin and beyond, ages 10 to 25.
But since a temporary closure of after-school services, and a revamping of community offerings at IHDC, the van has seen a drop-off in the numbers of local youth that utilize the van's services.
Dr. Seth Ammerman, lead Medical Doctor of the Teen Health Van operation, believes that much of this can be attributed to getting the message out there. “A lot of people don’t know about the program, that it is free, and that it’s comprehensive," he said.
The Teen Health Van serves locations in San Mateo and San Francisco counties, including stops in San Jose, East Palo Alto, Mountain View and San Bruno. Every first Tuesday of the month, the van parks at 375 Eddy, offering everything from immunizations and injury treatment to mental health, substance abuse, and nutrition counseling from 2pm to 7pm.
The goal of the van's Eddy Street stop is simple: to make healthcare accessible to young residents of the Tenderloin.
“I think some adults, even if their kids have insurance, they don't go out of their way to go to a clinic," said Ammerman. "By going to them, in the neighborhood where they live, work, and play, and making it easy and convenient, kids are more likely to take advantage of the program. And importantly, most clinics don't offer the comprehensive services we provide."
One young woman who utilized the van's services heard about it through the neighborhood grapevine.“Some friends of mine told be about the Teen Health Van, and that I could get free care there," she said. "I went and they were really nice and helpful. Not only did they help me with my headaches and stomach aches, they caught me up on my shots, and talked with me about and gave me free birth control."
But despite some traction, the van is still underutilized by the community.
According to Dean Oshida, Executive Director at IHDC, “When we had after school programming, we constantly had a captive audience on-site, and staff who talked to their friends in the neighborhood about the services the Health Van was offering. We didn’t need to get people in the door, they were already here.”
Since receiving funding from Metta this past January for IHDC’s health based programs, the two organizations have joined forces to try and publicize the van's services and make local youth aware that free, comprehensive medical care is being made available.
New strategies may help the project reach a wider audience. With a new vision for 2015, including on-site groups, workshops and a health education texting project, the Teen Health Van anticipates a spike in participation and a range of new programs based on community input.
Drop-ins to the Teen Health Van are welcome, but participants are encouraged to schedule appointments with medical staff. The next visit is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th, from 2pm to 7pm.
