Twin Green Launches Mobile Clinic After Years of Effort

After four years of striving for public funding to buy a mobile clinic in the south suburbs, The Link and Option Center’s Twin Green took decisive action. ‘I couldn’t wait on that,’ Green stated during the launch of a large bus set to provide up to 2,000 mental health screenings and 300 to 500 maternal health visits annually, starting this month.

Green raised the $600,000 needed for the mobile clinic through private donations. She continues to seek another $900,000 from elected officials to staff and operate the clinic for the long term. Named ‘Carry,’ the clinic will travel to high-need areas such as Harvey, Dolton, Riverdale, and others four days a week.

The clinic has gained support from municipalities and healthcare centers, including Thornton Township and Cook County Health. Designed to offer diverse health services, it will provide prenatal and maternal wellness checks, mental health assessments, addiction support, and disease monitoring, regardless of insurance coverage. A mobile crisis response van will be on hand to offer immediate mental health support when necessary.

‘These are the very people we need to reach, the ones that are resistant to coming into brick and mortar facilities,’ Green said, emphasizing the importance of making healthcare accessible.

Green’s experiences over the past two decades fueled her initiative. She noted significant mental health challenges within her community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and found inspiration to reduce barriers to care by delivering services directly to people.

Local leaders such as State Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin and others showed their support for Green’s project. The mobile clinic, spearheaded by The Link and Option Center, aims to serve Chicago’s south suburbs and far South Side.

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller stressed the need for more Black healthcare professionals. With recent data from the Association of American Medical Colleges indicating that fewer than 6% of U.S. doctors identify as Black or African American, Miller underscored the importance of training the next generation of healthcare providers. She pledged to advocate for federal funding to address community mental health needs.