Women in Carson City, Lyon, and Churchill counties now have access to vital mental health and substance abuse treatment through a new mobile clinic, known as the Empowered Go van. This initiative aims to provide essential resources for women seeking assessments, support in managing opioid use, mental health conditions, and medication management.
The Empowered Go program, an initiative of Empowered, was launched in 2019 by the Roseman University College of Medicine in Las Vegas. Initially focused on assisting women affected by substance abuse or those who are pregnant, the program has expanded its reach with the mobile clinic.
Shannon Lepe, the program director, highlighted the comprehensive approach of the mobile unit. During each stop, the team conducts assessments to better understand the needs of the women they serve. “We’re looking at their needs in housing, food, transportation, and medical care,” Lepe explained, emphasizing the importance of addressing social determinants of health that impact overall well-being.
The Empowered Go van recently visited Friends in Service Helping (FISH) in Carson City, where community health workers actively engaged with those seeking help. Chloe Skidmore, one of the community health workers, expressed the team’s commitment to reducing barriers in the community. “There are a lot of barriers in our community out here,” she noted. “We’re just trying to alleviate some of that and get people easier access to resources and care.”
Skidmore holds a degree in global health, aligning her work with preventive health initiatives. Another community health worker, Velvet Beaman, who has a background in criminal justice and addiction treatment counseling from the University of Nevada, Reno, echoed similar sentiments. “Being part of a team that serves underserved populations is super important,” she remarked. “Making sure people aren’t forgotten and have all the resources they need is vital in our communities.”
The program is funded by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and the UNR School of Public Health, which underscores the collaborative effort to enhance health care access for women in these regions.
The Empowered Go team is also working towards obtaining a license to operate in Storey County, further expanding their outreach. For more information about services and locations, interested individuals can visit Empoweredgo.org.
This initiative represents a significant step towards improving women’s health care access in Nevada, demonstrating a commitment to addressing critical health challenges within the community.
