Looking like a cross between an RV and a box truck, Howard Center’s Substance Use Services Mobile Unit hardly stands out, but for people who can’t get to a Howard Center location, the vehicle is a literal life saver.
Howard Center recently introduced the new unit and it is already busy keeping a regular schedule of visits to some of the more rural parts of northwestern Vermont, providing access to treatment for opioid use disorder and other services to people who may not have transportation to brick-and-mortar offices. The custom-built unit was purchased with grant funding from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“We see folks with all kinds of circumstances and backgrounds,” said Andrew Decker, who leads the team staffing the unit. “Some people come to the van because they don’t have a car to get to another Howard Center location. Others don’t have a phone or a steady place to stay so it’s hard for them to make appointments. If they know when we’ll be in town or see us when we visit, they just drop in and we’ll help them get what they need.”
Besides being mobile, another benefit of the van is that it doesn’t come with the medical office atmosphere that can be off-putting for so many. “Some people are just not comfortable in that situation,” said Jackie Bray, the program’s physician. “A visit to the van should feel like dropping in on friends.”
“It changes things when you meet people in their own towns,” said Josh Florucci, a care manager with the program. “People are comfortable in their own place, and they take more time to talk. You can get to know someone better and help them get what they need. Sometimes people just want to talk for ten minutes without being judged.”
Onboard the van visitors enter an organized space where they can meet with a doctor in-person or through a telehealth call about getting a prescription to treat opioid use disorder, chat with someone about getting other services, or pick up safe use supplies.
The unit currently makes weekly stops at three locations, each from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On Mondays it is available at Howard Center’s St. Albans location at 172 Fairfield Avenue; on Tuesdays it is in the Swanton Library parking lot; and on Thursdays it can be found at the Richford Notch Community Building.
Howard Center helps people and communities thrive by providing supports and services to address mental health, substance use, and developmental needs.