Northwest Health Services brings ‘mobile outreach’ to Downtown

A local health care provider held its first mobile outreach event on Monday.

Northwest Health Services provided free health care services, Medicaid enrollment, hygiene items, sack lunches, warm beverages and more to St. Joseph's homeless community at the Salvation Army. 

Jessie Leaverton, a community member who participated in the event, said it's a huge help to have more accessibility to needed services. When it comes to treating her own physical, mental and emotional health conditions, she's thankful for the opportunity.

"That's the big thing about being homeless," Leaverton said. "You never know what someone is going through."

Between a branded truck used for mobile services and an indoor space provided by The Salvation Army Downtown, the Northwest Health staff wants to create more ways to become accessible. 

"We want to make sure we're meeting people where they're at. That's the biggest thing in rural health care -- these people aren't able to get here," said Roman Jackson, a peer support specialist with Northwest Health Services. 

The mobile unit will serve as a way for the Northwest Health staff to continue to provide resources to St. Joseph's homeless community.

"We're pushing so hard to get people in our clinics and to get this mobile unit out where people can find that resource," Jackson said.

As of now, Northwest Health Services is looking for more ways to utilize its mobile outreach unit in the future with similar events. 

Jackson also said Northwest Health Services is working on a "drive-tran," similar to a cab service that would take patrons to appointments.