The Fresno County Department of Public Health is honored to be a recipient of the 2024 California State Association of Counties Challenge Award for its Rural Mobile Health (RMH) program. The Challenge Awards recognize the most innovative programs developed by California’s Counties this past year. The Fresno County RMH program is supported by $8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated by the Board of Supervisors and has initiated a comprehensive, equity-focused approach to overcoming healthcare access barriers in Fresno County’s rural communities. In collaboration with UCSF-Fresno, Saint Agnes Medical Center, and Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, essential medical and vision services are provided at no-cost via mobile units directly to agricultural workers and people living in Fresno County’s rural areas. These services encompass preventive care screenings, vaccinations, STD testing, eye exams, and more. In addition, Fresno County’s Community Health Worker (CHW) network assists community members during RMH events by providing wraparound care coordination services and health education in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner on various topics, such as nutrition, mental health, diabetes, and heart disease.
Additionally, Covered California highlighted Fresno County Deputy Health Officer, Dr. Trinidad Solis in a comic book for her role in the County’s RMH program. Dr. Solis played a key part in developing the program and currently oversees its medical components. Covered California plans to distribute the comic book to rural communities throughout California. The comic books are available to download in English and Spanish.