Vitality Unlimited launches mobile behavioral-health van and veterans opioid program

Mary Anne McCown, representing Vitality Unlimited, briefed the board on two recent initiatives: an Operation Recovery Veterans and Family grant to address opioid use among people who served in the military and the launch of a mobile services van to provide community behavioral health services across a wide rural area.

"The van comes with a wheelchair lift," McCown said while describing the mobile service that includes a bathroom and the capacity to perform drug testing, provide medication-assisted-treatment injections (e.g., monthly Vivitrol) and connect patients to telehealth follow-ups. She said the van will visit Battle Mountain, Carlin, Ely, Eureka, Jackpot, Owyhee, Wells and West Wendover twice a month for at least 1.5 years with the intention of moving toward sustainability after that period.

McCown also explained the veterans grant will assist anyone who served in the military — regardless of discharge status — with assessments, counseling, medication-assisted treatment and support services, and that Vitality operates peer recovery specialists and targeted case managers to assist uninsured or underinsured people with IDs and Medicaid enrollment. Board members asked about discretion and stigma for van users; Vitality staff said visits are held at designated public sites (family resource centers, market parking lots) and that intake is private inside the vehicle.