The Family Van

The Family Van The Family Van is a mobile health clinic, providing free health screenings, referrals and counseling to Boston's underserved communities. Nearly half were men.

We serve communities with disproportionately high rates of preventable diseases and hospitalization, and our convenient curbside care provides a bridge into the health and social services. Family Van staff include health educators, a registered dietician, and counselors, who, in addition to health screenings, offer oral and written information to encourage clients to improve their health and follo

w healthy lifestyles. Education on risks, warning signs, nutrition, and self-care is vital to our clients, and we are often their sole provider of information. Clients receive the support and resources they need to improve their health and well-being in an atmosphere of warmth and caring. The Van is affiliated with Harvard Medical School and collaborates with a wide network of partners, volunteers, and supporters. A pioneer in the growing trend of mobile health care, the Family Van has been serving Boston residents since 1992. The Family Van staff also provide medical and allied health students with firsthand, practical experience to train the next generation of health care providers. The Family Van is on the road each week, making stops in six regular locations. In 2010, we served 2,322 clients and 1,375 new clients. In addition:

87% were minorities, and 37% did not speak English as their primary language. Only 24% worked full time; 31% were unemployed, 22% were retired, 16% worked part-time, and 6% were on disability. Clients included both uninsured (8%) and insured (66% public, 26% private) individuals.

We are proud of moments like this. This week, two of our volunteers stepped into a powerful role: training and mentoring...
06/25/2026

We are proud of moments like this. This week, two of our volunteers stepped into a powerful role: training and mentoring our summer interns as they learn what it means to do our work.

❤️ Karoline Sanches led a motivational interviewing session, helping interns build the listening and communication skills that create trust and connection.

❤️ Tyler Allerhand provided hands-on training in blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, building confidence in the core skills they will use out in the community.

Tyler also shared his experience as a paramedic, speaking about what he sees in emergency care and why early screening matters — how often small, preventable issues become emergencies when they go unseen.

This is how the next generation of health leaders is formed! We’re especially grateful to Simone de Oliveira for nurturing and supporting these opportunities for our volunteers to step into leadership.❤️

Today, our interns explored East Boston, a neighborhood rich in culture, creativity, and history. Long known as a gatewa...
06/24/2026

Today, our interns explored East Boston, a neighborhood rich in culture, creativity, and history. Long known as a gateway for immigrant communities, East Boston is a place where diverse traditions, cuisines, languages, and stories come together to create a vibrant community.

But the afternoon was about more than exploring the neighborhood. It was an opportunity to better understand the community they will serve every Wednesday this summer.

As one of our busiest community sites, East Boston reminds us that community-based care starts with understanding a neighborhood's strengths, resources, and connections that help people access care and support. ❤️

Yesterday, our interns continued training on The Family Van. The highlight of the day was a brain care session led by ou...
06/24/2026

Yesterday, our interns continued training on The Family Van. The highlight of the day was a brain care session led by our former clerk and Harvard Medical School student Yoseph Boku, who introduced the Brain Care Score — a simple tool developed by the Global Brain Care Coalition to help people understand steps they can take to support long-term brain health.

We talked about how everyday habits matter. Managing blood pressure, staying active, eating well, getting quality sleep, and maintaining social connections can all help protect brain health and lower the risk of dementia, stroke, and other chronic conditions. It was a reminder that even small changes can make a meaningful difference over time.

They’re excited to bring what they’re learning back to the van and help our neighbors take small, meaningful steps toward long-term well-being. ❤️

Curious about your brain health? Stop by The Family Van and ask our interns about the Brain Care Score! No appointment or insurance needed.

🚐 We kicked off the summer by welcoming an incredible group of students and future healthcare leaders to The Family Van ...
06/23/2026

🚐 We kicked off the summer by welcoming an incredible group of students and future healthcare leaders to The Family Van and Mobile Health Map.

This year's cohort includes six summer interns at The Family Van and a talented group supporting community outreach, marketing, and our national work through Mobile Health Map.

Over the next several weeks, they'll gain hands-on experience in community health, contribute to projects that strengthen mobile healthcare, and learn how we bring care directly to communities — both here in Boston and across the country.

We're excited to learn from their ideas, energy, and fresh perspectives. Welcome to the team! ☀️ ❤️

🚐 We’re coming to Hyde Park! This Friday, June 26, The Family Van is making an extra stop — and we’d love your help spre...
06/22/2026

🚐 We’re coming to Hyde Park! This Friday, June 26, The Family Van is making an extra stop — and we’d love your help spreading the word!

📍 Hyde Park (Boston Public Library), 35 Harvard Ave, Hyde Park, MA 02136
🕙 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

🩺 We’ll be offering FREE health screenings, including:

• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• Cholesterol
• Health education and resources to support overall well-being

We’re bringing preventive care closer to the community — making it easier to access simple, important health screenings and support.

No appointment needed — just walk up and connect with our team.

Please REPOST and share with friends, family, and neighbors in Hyde Park. ❤️

On this , we honor a day of freedom, reflection, and resilience.At The Family Van, this day holds deep meaning for the ...
06/19/2026

On this , we honor a day of freedom, reflection, and resilience.

At The Family Van, this day holds deep meaning for the communities we serve. In 2025, 44% of our clients identified as Black or African American — individuals and families who continue to experience systemic barriers to accessing care and staying healthy.

We are grateful for the trust placed in us on the curbside, in neighborhoods across Boston, where care is offered without appointment or barriers — only presence, listening, and support. Every screening, every conversation, every referral is a reminder that health begins with connection.

Today (and every day), we honor the strength and resilience of the communities we serve, and we remain committed to showing up with care, dignity, and respect. ❤️

As we wrap up a month with Tufts University students Marco Salimbeni and Lena Tang, we're reflecting on what makes our v...
06/18/2026

As we wrap up a month with Tufts University students Marco Salimbeni and Lena Tang, we're reflecting on what makes our volunteers so special. ❤️

This past month, they joined our team in neighborhoods across Boston, bringing enthusiasm, curiosity, and a commitment to serving others. Along the way, they experienced firsthand the trust, compassion, and connection that happen when healthcare meets people where they are.

Thank you, Marco and Lena, for spending this month with us. We're grateful for all you've contributed and can't wait to see where your journeys take you next!

❤️ Happy Community Health Worker Week, Massachusetts! This week and every week, we celebrate the heart of The Family Van...
06/15/2026

❤️ Happy Community Health Worker Week, Massachusetts! This week and every week, we celebrate the heart of The Family Van: our Community Health Workers.

They are the friendly faces that welcome people onto the van, the trusted voices that listen without judgment, and the bridge that breaks down barriers to healthcare — helping connect people to the care and resources they need.

The impact of a Community Health Worker can't always be measured in numbers. It's found in the conversations, the trust built over time, and the moments when someone feels seen, heard, and supported.

To our incredible CHW team — Rainelle Walker-White, Ghislaine "Gigi" Firmin, Simone de Oliveira, Dina Martinez, Hermes Baez, Jude Louis, and Emmanuel Messele — thank you for making those moments possible every day. Your compassion, dedication, and commitment strengthen our communities and change lives.

Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers

The work our team and volunteers do for our neighbors is powerful — but it can also be demanding. Sustaining that care m...
06/13/2026

The work our team and volunteers do for our neighbors is powerful — but it can also be demanding. Sustaining that care means making space for their own well-being too.

Yesterday, our Internship and Volunteer leader Simone de Oliveira brought that message to life by taking our Tufts University Project SHARE volunteers to an Orangetheory Fitness workout — a chance to step away, move their bodies, and recharge together during their third week with The Family Van.

We’re so grateful for the heart, energy, and commitment these volunteers bring to our community every week — and for Simone, for leading with care in every sense of the word. ❤️

In just a couple of weeks, our Summer Internship Program kicks off — and we’re thrilled to welcome six incredible intern...
06/09/2026

In just a couple of weeks, our Summer Internship Program kicks off — and we’re thrilled to welcome six incredible interns to our mobile clinic!

After a record number of applications and a thoughtful selection process, this year’s cohort brings together six students from Boston and the communities we serve — reflecting the lived experiences and languages rooted in our neighborhoods, including Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Vietnamese, and Portuguese.

We can’t wait for you to meet them. Welcome, Summer 2026 Interns!

Address

200 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA
02115

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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