Access to healthcare can be challenging in rural areas, but Wind River Family & Community Health Care (Wind River Cares) is making strides in overcoming these barriers with its innovative mobile clinic program. Designed to provide preventative care to Native American students in Fremont County, these mobile units are transforming the way healthcare is delivered by bringing essential services directly to the schools.
Making Healthcare Accessible
Lisa Yawakia, the Onboarding & Training Specialist at Wind River Cares, shared insights into how the mobile clinics are making a difference. “We’ve had a really good turnout. A lot of parents are taking advantage of having services on-site, and the schools have been very helpful, including our registration packet with back-to-school forms,” Lisa explained. “By embedding the registration process into the school’s administrative procedures, Wind River Cares ensures that students are ready to receive care when the mobile units arrive.”
Comprehensive Preventative Care Services
The mobile units offer a range of preventative care services to ensure the well-being of Native students. These services include:
- Well Child Check Ups
- Behavioral Health
- Dental Screenings
- Occupational/Physical/Speech Therapy
- Optometry Screenings
- Immunizations and Vaccinations
- Population Health
- Teen Clinic
By providing these services directly at schools and community events, Wind River Cares is helping to prevent health issues before they become serious problems. “Our objective is to provide preventative care through the list of services available on the mobile unit,” Lisa emphasized.
A Community-Driven Approach
The success of the mobile clinics is not limited to schools alone. Wind River Cares has extended its reach to community events such as powwows and rural areas like Crowheart and Arapaho Ranch. “Being able to take medical services to individuals who can’t make it to the clinics is a huge advantage,” Lisa noted. This approach ensures that even those in the most remote locations have access to vital healthcare services.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite the success, there are challenges in maintaining the mobile clinic’s operations. Staffing is a significant hurdle. “Finding the staff to man the units consistently enough has been the biggest challenge,” Lisa admitted. While Wind River Cares offers a wide array of services, the need for more healthcare providers, such as optometrists, medical personnel, and dental staff, remains critical to bringing the mobile units to full capacity.
Expanding the Reach
Currently, the mobile units serve schools in Arapaho, St. Stephens, Riverton, Wyoming Indian, WRITC Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Head Start Program, and Fort Washakie with plans to expand to Wind River. Wind River Cares is also exploring the possibility of extending services beyond Fremont County to other Native populations and remote areas such as Casper and Thermopolis. “We would love to see our mobile units beyond Fremont County to other native populations and remote areas,” Lisa shared.
Partnering with Schools and Communities
A Memorandum of Association (MOA) is in place with the schools, allowing Wind River Cares to operate the mobile clinics on school grounds. Celeste Spoonhunter, a key school health management coordinator at Wind River Cares, works closely with school boards to secure approval for the presence of mobile units. The collaboration sometimes includes utilizing rooms or spaces within the schools, primarily for behavioral health services.
A Fleet of Mobile Clinics
Wind River Cares currently operates three mobile units, each equipped to provide specialized services. One unit is dedicated to dental care, another to general medical services, and the third offers both medical and optometry services. This fleet ensures that a wide range of healthcare needs can be met wherever the mobile clinics are deployed.
Contact Information:
Yuleta Marta, the Public Health Nurse Supervisor, is the point of contact for schools or community organizations interested in having the mobile unit at their event. If your school or community is interested in scheduling the mobile unit for an event, please get in touch with Yuleta at 851-1845. She helps schedule the mobile unit for community events, while Celeste coordinates with the schools.
For school-based services, Celeste Spoonhunter, School Health Management specialist and S.T.A.R.S. School-Based Program (Students That Are Receiving Services) Manager is available to coordinate and discuss how the mobile clinic can best serve your students. You can contact Celeste at 307-855-6742.
Wind River Cares is committed to expanding access to preventative healthcare and ensuring that all Native students in Fremont County receive the care they deserve. By bringing healthcare directly to the community, Wind River Cares is making a lasting impact on the health and well-being of the next generation.
