NJCRI
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare organizations adorned their campuses with signs saluting the “healthcare heroes” who work there. But few match this appellation as well as the dedicated clinicians who staff NJCRI’s Mobile Unit Clinic.
From 5:30 in the morning to 8:00 at night, seven days a week, the Mobile Unit travels to some of the most economically blighted neighborhoods in Newark and the surround towns, serving some of the hardest-to-reach populations, included the chronically homeless, the undocumented, and the substance-addicted.
In 2022, HFNJ provided a $107,212 grant to support the Vaccination Task Force which operates out of the mobile unit. The Task Force provides mobile outreach and assessment for people that have been systematically, culturally, and economically underserved in the healthcare system. The mantra and the approach of the Task Force is to “meet them where they are at,” both in the physical sense as well as the willingness of clients to receive help and make changes in their lives.
Through this project, from January 1 to June 30, 2023, 5,440 persons from the target population received a multi-disciplinary screening from the Vaccine Task Force and were vaccinated. 384 clients also received a mental health screening from the social worker embedded with the team, of whom 51 were identified as having a mental health/SUD problem and were linked to NJCRI for full assessment and treatment.
Speaking directly to the “meet them where they are at” approach, through this project the team encountered 465 clients who were initially hesitant to receive vaccines. 384 accepted COVID-19 vaccinations after a brief counseling intervention, for a conversion rate of 82.6%.