SLO County is getting free reproductive healthcare on wheels via a new mobile clinic

Underserved communities across San Luis Obispo County will soon have access to a free sexual and reproductive health clinic on wheels.

In a Tuesday news release, the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County announced it would roll out its “Health Care on Wheels” mobile clinic at a 1 p.m. launch event on Saturday.

The new clinic was made possible by a $500,000 San Luis Obispo County Office of Public Health grant to The Center for Health & Prevention, a CAPSLO team that connects underserved communities to health solutions.

The clinic will operate out of a large van equipped with an awning, shelving, exam table, microscope and other medical lab equipment, and will be deployed to locations where people face economic, geographic, systemic and other barriers to quality sexual and reproductive health services, the release said.

“When programs like The Center take our resources on the road, we can eliminate a multitude of obstacles for those who need care,” Center director Kayla Wilburn said in the release.

New CAPSLO program promotes sexual and reproductive health

In an email, CAPSLO outreach and development director Loren Leidinger said the van will be staffed with two medical assistants and a medical provider such as a nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant or nurse midwife.

These healthcare workers will offer all of the services currently offered in existing brick and mortar clinics run by The Center for Health & Prevention in Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo, Leidinger said.

The mobile clinic will offer all methods of contraception, pregnancy testing and counseling, menopausal services, exams for all genders, breast exams, pap smears and referrals for free mammograms, Leidinger said. All services, exams and medications will be free.

Tests and treatment for sexually transmitted illnesses, Hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis will be available at the mobile clinic, which will carry medications such as PrEP, which is used to prevent HIV, Leidinger said.

Leidinger said the clinic will also offer vaccinations against HPV, Mpox, COVID-19 and the flu.

Any individual with or without insurance or CenCal coverage seeking these services can get them at the mobile clinic and can have their medications dispensed at the van rather than from a separate pharmacy, Leidinger said.

In addition to sexual and reproductive health services, the van will carry free Narcan and fentanyl test strips, Leidinger said.

She said the project will serve people regardless of immigration status and offers sexual and reproductive services to people of all genders.

Leidinger said the Office of Public Health grant that pays for the van, specialized equipment, staff salaries and operating costs will keep the project operational through December 2025.

Where can you find Health Care on Wheels?

In the next few months The Center will partner with nonprofits like the SLO Food Bank, Lumina Alliance, the 5Cities Homeless Coalition and other collaborators to connect under-resourced communities with Health Care on Wheels, according to the release.

In the release, Wilburn said the mobile clinic will form a “caravan of care” with its partners, functioning as a traveling service provider with regularly scheduled locations across the county.

Serving people on a first-come, first-served basis, the clinic has already secured one site it will visit on a regular basis at the Paso Robles Housing Authority on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1 to 5:30 p.m., Leidinger told The Tribune.

She said staff from The Center is currently working to get People’s Self-Help Housing, 5CHC, the El Camino Homeless Organization, the 40 Prado Homeless Services Center and Líderes Campesinas to set a reliable schedule.

Members of the public can learn more and tour the new mobile clinic on April 13 from 1-4 p.m. at its ribbon-cutting event at 1152 E Grand Ave. in Arroyo Grande.