A mobile prenatal clinic program is now serving expecting mothers in rural Martin County who face barriers to accessing maternity care. Mom Mobile, launched by the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition, delivers prenatal care and support directly to pregnant women and their families in underserved communities. The program has proven so successful that it has expanded to neighboring Okeechobee County, where the need for such services is equally critical.
Twenty-year-old Evelyn Allen discovered Mom Mobile after struggling to find affordable prenatal care options. Allen explained that available resources either required out-of-pocket payments or had expectations she could not meet. When she first learned she was pregnant while trying to improve her circumstances, she felt terrified and unsure where to turn. The discovery of Mom Mobile changed her experience significantly. According to Allen, "I couldn't find any resources and the resources I did find you have to come out of pocket for it, or they would expect you to do more and you can't." She added that it was difficult to find places willing to provide help without barriers.
The expansion to Okeechobee County came after Andrea Medellin with the Okeechobee Healthy Start Coalition witnessed the program's impact and recognized her community had the same urgent need. Okeechobee County has no hospitals that deliver babies, forcing pregnant women to travel to Fort Pierce or Highlands County depending on their location. The 38-foot mobile clinic is now stationed at the public library on West 16th Street every Tuesday, offering hour-long appointments designed specifically to provide quality care for high-risk and high-need mothers. Medellin explained the intentional approach: "This bus looks like an hour-long visit for moms. It's intentional, it's specifically set not to serve more but to serve quality for our high-risk and need moms."
The demand for the service became clear immediately upon arrival in Okeechobee. During the first three days of operation, fifteen women received care, and appointment requests have continued to come in. Allen appreciates the ongoing support from nursing staff with the Okeechobee Healthy Start Coalition, who assured her she could always call with concerns. Having professional support throughout her pregnancy journey has made a significant difference for Allen. She describes the Mom Mobile program as a blessing, reflecting on how the accessible, judgment-free care has transformed her experience during a time when she felt vulnerable and uncertain.