Flint, Michigan – Health care is usually tied to a clinic, an appointment and a trip across town. Genesee County is trying a different approach by putting key services on wheels and taking them directly into local neighborhoods.
The Genesee County Health Department’s new mobile health unit, COMPASS, is beginning that work in the community, giving residents another way to connect with health programs, information and assistance outside traditional clinic settings.
COMPASS, which stands for Community Outreach Mobile-unit: Providing Access, Support and Services, will make an appearance Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Second Chance Resource Expo in Flint. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1002 S. Saginaw St.
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Residents will be able to tour the mobile unit and learn about several services offered through the Genesee County Health Department.
Immunization services will be available from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Those services include vaccines, access to immunization records and educational information. Visitors can also learn about Children’s Special Health Care Services and receive information about assistance with enrolling in health coverage.
The event will also give residents a closer look at what COMPASS was designed to do.
Instead of requiring every person to reach a traditional Health Department location, the mobile unit allows staff and services to move into the communities they serve. Residents attending the expo will be able to step inside the unit and see how it can be used to connect people with health resources in locations that may be more convenient and accessible.
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That mobility is central to the program. By bringing services closer to residents, the Health Department is working to reduce some of the distance between people and the programs available to them.
COMPASS also expands the department’s ability to meet residents beyond the walls of a clinic, providing a flexible space for outreach, education and direct services.
Thursday’s Second Chance Resource Expo will provide an early opportunity for the public to see that approach in action. Beyond receiving available services, visitors can explore the unit and learn how Genesee County plans to use it as another tool for supporting healthier, safer and more livable communities.