Brother’s Brother Foundation recently received the final grant report from Caridad Center detailing the impact of BBF’s support for the organization’s Mobile Health Screening Initiative. The report highlights how the grant helped expand access to free preventive healthcare services in underserved Palm Beach County communities by bringing medical, dental, and vision screenings directly to residents who often face significant barriers to care.

As one of the largest free and charitable clinics in Florida, Caridad Center provides comprehensive medical, dental, vision, behavioral health, social services, and health education to uninsured and low-income residents of Palm Beach County. Serving more than 7,000 patients annually through approximately 70,000 services, the organization is widely recognized as a critical healthcare safety net for individuals and families living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Many of its patients are members of Hispanic, Black, immigrant, and other underserved communities who experience limited access to healthcare because of financial hardship, transportation challenges, language barriers, or a lack of insurance.

Caridad’s integrated model of care extends beyond clinical services by connecting patients with case management, medication assistance, health education, referrals, and other supportive resources that address the social factors influencing health. Working alongside more than 400 volunteer healthcare providers and over 200 community partners, the organization seeks to reduce health disparities, improve long-term health outcomes, and prevent avoidable emergency room visits throughout Palm Beach County.

BBF’s grant supported Caridad’s Mobile Health Screening Initiative, which delivers free biometric, dental, and vision screenings aboard mobile health vans that travel directly into underserved neighborhoods. By providing care at trusted community locations, the program removes many of the obstacles that prevent individuals from seeking preventive healthcare, including transportation limitations, cost, language differences, and limited availability of healthcare providers.

Between March and June 2026, the initiative delivered 1,850 mobile health screenings across Palm Beach County, including 840 biometric screenings, 559 dental screenings, and 451 vision screenings. During the same period, Caridad also provided 202 pairs of prescription eyeglasses and 59 pairs of reading glasses to participants requiring corrective vision.

The program primarily served highly underserved populations. Participants receiving biometric screenings lived at an average of approximately 103 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Nearly 98 percent identified as a race other than White, approximately 75 percent identified as Hispanic or Latino, and about 20 percent identified as Black or African American. Many participants lived in rural, western, and agricultural areas of Palm Beach County, where transportation barriers, limited healthcare resources, and language differences often delay or prevent access to routine medical care.

In addition to providing screenings, the mobile clinics offered health education, referrals, corrective eyewear, and connections to follow-up care for participants with identified health concerns. By detecting medical, dental, and vision conditions early, the program helps individuals receive timely treatment before problems become more serious.

One patient’s experience illustrates the value of bringing healthcare directly into the community. During a routine vision screening aboard the mobile van, a participant who reported no pain or symptoms was found to have a metallic object embedded in his cornea that had reduced his vision to 20/200. The object was removed immediately aboard the mobile clinic, and the patient received follow-up care. Within one month, his vision had improved to 20/25, demonstrating how preventive screenings can identify serious conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed.

By supporting Caridad Center’s Mobile Health Screening Initiative, BBF is helping extend preventive healthcare to communities where access remains limited. Through early detection, patient education, and connections to continued care, the program is improving health outcomes while helping reduce disparities for thousands of underserved residents across Palm Beach County.