Every parent knows nothing matters more than keeping their child healthy. But barriers like work hours, transportation, and lack of childcare can make routine care visits difficult, leading to missed checkups that are essential to child development and overall health.
That’s why Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is bringing care closer to where members live, work, and go to school.
Bringing access to preventive care
In 2023, Blue Shield Promise launched a program to expand access to well-child checkups across Los Angeles and San Diego counties, focusing on neighborhoods with the highest rates of missed exams. Members ages 1-21 can receive developmental and health screenings at convenient times, including evenings and weekends, in trusted community settings.
What began as a targeted effort is now a bi-county initiative, closing care gaps and delivering services directly in communities. Events are hosted at community-based organizations and the 14 Community Resource Centers Blue Shield Promise jointly operates with L.A. Care Health Plan — an approach that is especially impactful for working families, with some sites also offering childcare.
In 2025, Blue Shield Promise expanded the program further to include combined well-child and mobile mammogram events, allowing families to address multiple preventive needs in one visit. Overall, in 2025, Blue Shield Promise was able to deliver:
- 4,849 well-child visits
- 880 mobile mammograms
“Every family deserves access to high‑quality preventive care,” said Christine Nguyen, director of clinical quality for Blue Shield Promise. “By delivering services together in trusted community settings, we’re removing long-standing barriers to care.”
Bringing care to the community
In San Diego County, the program is already making an impact with the help of community-based organizations, such as Episcopal Community Services (ECS) in Chula Vista, one of more than 12 San Diego County community organizations hosting events.
At the ECS Family Engagement Center, a place where families already feel supported, Blue Shield Promise hosts well-child and combination events. Children receive checkups and fluoride treatments, women can access on-site mammograms, and families are connected to local resources and Medi-Cal support.
At one recent event:
- 109 children received well-child services
- 55 women received mammograms
For Cynthia, a mother of two, the events have made a meaningful difference over the past two years. “I’m always trying to be on top of their appointments,” she said, adding that her daughters have consistently completed their checkups because of these events. So far, two combination well-child and mammogram events have been hosted with Episcopal Community Services, with another planned this year.
“It’s more than providing care in the moment,” said Amanda Ruiz, program manager at Blue Shield Promise. “It’s about helping families stay connected to care long after they leave the appointment.”
“Meeting people where they are can change everything,” said Jennifer Schirmer, vice president of growth and community engagement at Blue Shield Promise. “We are deeply grateful to work with trusted organizations like Episcopal Community Services to support families.”
Looking ahead
Blue Shield Promise is expanding access through new formats and additional events. A mini-clinic model in San Diego and Los Angeles counties now offers scheduled appointments at community-based organizations for families who cannot attend larger events.
In 2026, Blue Shield Promise plans to host:
- More than 70 well-child visit events across Los Angeles and San Diego counties, including 40 combination events (well-child and mammogram)
- 23 mini clinics in San Diego County
- 73 mini clinics in Los Angeles County
These efforts reinforce Blue Shield Promise’s commitment to prevention and population health. The plan earned a 4 out of 5 rating in NCQA Medicaid Health Plan Ratings for 2024 and 2025, along with NCQA Health Outcomes Accreditation, reflecting strong performance in preventive care.
Well-child visits, mobile mammograms, and mini clinics are available for Blue Shield Promise members by appointment only. For information, call member services at (800) 605-2556 in Los Angeles County, or (855) 699-5557 in San Diego County.
To learn more about Blue Shield Promise, visit https://www.blueshieldca.com/en/bsp.