Carbondale's Care-A-Van
The Care-A-Van is a school-based health center which was born with the idea of helping Franklin County adolescents have access to mental health care or acute medical care.
A Care-A-Van for rural health
The SIU Care-A-Van is a mobile medical unit that travels to local High Schools to provide care to the students and faculty within those districts. Being able to provide quality health care at the convenience of being right there at the schools takes the burden off the student and parents from attending medical and mental health appointments outside of school hours at offsite locations. Our services are currently provided at Project ECHO and Starquest Academy in Johnston City, IL, Frankfort Community High School in West Frankfort, IL and Anna Jonesboro High School in Anna, IL.
School-based health center
The Care-A-Van is staffed with a Physicians Assistant and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Together they provide services such as well-child and primary care visits, acute care, reproductive health and mental health services. We also have access to community health workers to assist students with things such as basic hygiene supplies, retrieving personal documents such as birth certificates and assisting with enrollment to SNAP benefits and insurance.
The Process
Parents and students are encouraged to register with the Care-A-Van at the beginning of each school year. Students may request to be seen by one of our Care-A-Van providers or sometimes are referred out by staff members at the schools.
Our services
Primary care, behavioral health and other services.
Our locations
- Mondays and Fridays: Project ECHO and Starquest Academy, 17428 IL Rt 37, Johnston City, IL 62951
- Tuesdays: Frankfort Community High School, 601 E Main St., West Frankfort, IL 62896
- Thursdays: Anna-Jonesboro High School, 608 S Main St., Anna, IL 62906
Get in touch
Give us a call at 618-536-6621 or follow us on Facebook!
Meet Kevin Quinn our therapy dog
Kevin Quinn spends time with students on the SIU Care-A-Van and is also available for support at the SIU Center for Family Medicine in Carbondale on a limited basis when engaging in behavioral health services.
Health benefits of Kevin Quinn:
- Physical - Interaction with therapy dogs has been shown to reduce blood pressure, provide physical stimulation and assist with pain management.
- Social - Therapy dogs promote greater self-esteem, promote the development of empathy, and aid in social connection.
- Cognitive - It has been empirically proven that therapy dogs stimulate memory and problem- solving skills.
- Emotional and mental – Therapy dogs can be a positive resource for participants coping with trauma, can reduce anxiety; and enhances engagement in therapy.
A therapy dog is specially trained to provide comfort and support to people in public settings, such as schools, medical clinics, hospitals, or nursing homes. Dogs like Kevin Quinn add a special element to a counseling session, medical visit, or classroom by allowing for a physical and emotional release of stress and improving well-being.
Yes! Kevin enjoys pets and interactions with others. He’ll reward you with a smile and a tail wag … and may just lay down in your lap!
Therapy dogs have numerous benefits for students and patients. Research has shown that canine-assisted therapy promotes empathy and emotional well-being. It has also been proven to decrease stress response and enhance someone’s willingness to engage in treatment. These special dogs have even shown a positive impact on school attendance and behavior!
A recent national survey of adolescent mental health found that about 8 to 10 percent of teens ages 13 to 18 have an anxiety disorder. A therapy dog can lift moods in the classroom, often provoking laughter. The therapy dog is also there to offer friendship and another shoulder to lean on for students.