UC Davis Children’s Hospital is bringing specialty pediatric services closer to home through its Pediatric Mobile Clinic, a community-based program launched to deliver care directly to schools and local organizations throughout the Sacramento region.
The mobile clinic was established in 2024 to help overcome barriers to accessing specialty pediatric services for many families.
It offers in-community care for children from underserved and historically marginalized populations who may have trouble with transportation, scheduling, or having enough access to providers.
The services available include general pediatrics, mental health care, asthma treatment, and developmental-behavioral evaluations, including autism assessments and evaluations for related neurodevelopmental conditions.
Early screening and access to developmental expertise like this can be a crucial first step for many families in understanding their child’s needs.
Serena Yang, division chief of general pediatrics and vice chair for community engagement at UC Davis Health, said, “This program is about meeting families where they are. “By moving specialty services into schools and community spaces, we’re closing the access gap, increasing trust, and together taking steps to support children’s health.”
The program is funded by a grant from the Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
Early Impact on Children, Families, and Developmental Support
During its first official operating year, the Pediatric Mobile Clinic became a weekly service at school-based sites through a partnership with the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. Many of the kids that were entered into the program also had not been connected to specialty developmental or mental health care prior.
The clinic assisted children with developmental issues, those struggling behaviorally and emotionally, kids needing help with asthma or chronic conditions, and those attending school for the first time who need to pass certain health checks.
Expanding Access, Early Identification, and Long-Term Support
In addition to working with schools, the Pediatric Mobile Clinic collaborates with community organizations to provide health support at public events, youth programs, and family-centered outreach locations. This includes a range of services, such as health screening and vaccination,s and developmental health checks in urban/rural communities.
Additional community sites for the clinic now include counseling centers and child-focused family service organizations that offer developmental and mental health services to those who may not be able to access such support in a hospital setting.
Children do better when health and mental health services are available, timely, and delivered in their natural environments rather than in clinical settings.
Support for Autism, Developmental Needs, and Family Guidance in Sacramento
Questions around autism, communication development, learning differences, or behavioral challenges often arise early for many families—and a lack of clear guidance and eventual access to specialist support can make this journey much harder.
Have you ever wondered whether your child may need further assessment or assistance with their communication, behavior, or development, but are not sure what to do next? Such experiences aren’t unheard of, and early guidance can go a long way in helping folks understand where to make their next moves.
If you are seeking autism-related support, developmental resources, or family guidance, Sacramento ABA Therapy can help connect individuals and families with information, services, and community-based support tailored to their needs.
