The “Recovery is for Everyone” van is designed to start out at community events and eventually bring services directly into neighborhoods that need it most. Those attending the Heavenly Square Grocery grand opening on Aug. 17 at 1419 N. Bowman Ave., in Danville will be the first to see what the van has to offer. Clinically trained experts will offer harm reduction and treatment resources to meet community members where they are and reduce stigma related to substance misuse and mental health. Carle and the grocery are part of the Vermilion County Community Health Collaborative.
“The mobile unit is a vehicle to carry this message in a meaningful way,” David King, MSW, community outreach manager, Carle Addiction Recovery Center, said. Individuals from Community Health Initiatives and Behavioral Health at Carle worked together to make the van a reality thanks to Vermilion County Community Health Collaborative, which received a grant from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
It is another example of Carle Health creating access for underserved communities. Services like the Carle Mobile Health Clinic also offer opportunities for community members to experience high-quality in a more direct and accessible way throughout Vermilion County.
Carle Behavioral Health Executive Director Heather Hintz said the goal is for the van to eventually be out five days a week with the addition of a medical team working alongside peer recovery specialists. The team plan to provide resources such as hygiene kits, pouches for individuals to discard medication they no longer need and Narcan/naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses for van visitors to take home.
The ‘Recovery is for Everyone’ van is designed to give those who need help a new way to connect with an expert for information and resources for themselves or a loved one struggling with substance misuse or in need of mental healthcare, Hintz said.
Categories: Redefining Healthcare, Community
Tags: Behavioral health, Carle Addiction Recovery Center, Community Health Initiatives, , recovery, substance