Bernalillo County, NM (KKOB) — Tuesday evening the Bernalillo County Commission accepted a federal grant in the amount of $422,031 for the purchase and construction of a mobile health unit. The school based mobile health clinic will support and expand the current health infrastructure by mobilizing health care services in economically and medically vulnerable areas.
The grant was awarded to BernCo’s Office of Criminal Justice & Behavioral Health Initiative by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with support from Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury. The goal is to expand school-based health care services at select APS and charter schools and BernCo community centers.
“These mobile health clinics will take preventative primary and behavioral health care to where they’re needed most,” says District 2 Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada. “It is crucial for the well-being of our community that we provide wraparound health services, like school-based health centers, to our children. Thank you, Congresswoman Stansbury.”
BernCo recently purchased two mobile health units that are expected to be ready in July 2024. A third unit will be purchased with this grant and all three units will be used to provide access to preventative, primary and behavioral health services to approximately 2,500 students and their families. Bernalillo County is partnering on this initiative with Albuquerque Public Schools and ABC Community Schools. The program is expected to launch in July 2024 upon delivery of the first two mobile units.
The grant was accepted on a 5 to 0 vote.
