Our Programs · Children's Health
Ready for school. Ready for anything.
Everything kids need to be healthy and ready for school, brought to the places families already go.
What We Offer
One visit can catch a child up completely.
Well-child checkups, plus the school and sports physical forms Illinois schools require.
Childhood and adolescent vaccines, with a record you can take to school and your doctor.
Simple lead screening for young children, especially important in older buildings.
Growth checks and friendly counseling on food, activity, and healthy habits.
Early checks for little ones, so small concerns get attention before they grow.
Help connecting your child to a regular doctor near you, for everything after our visit.
Most services are free at community events. Our team speaks English and Spanish, and we can arrange other languages.
School health day
Where to Find Us
We come to the places kids already are.
- Schools and Head Start centers, through district partnerships
- Summer health fairs and park district programs
- Libraries, churches, and community centers
- WIC offices, where kids and parents can be seen in one stop
Why It Matters
When care is hard to reach, kids fall behind.
Illinois children on Medicaid won't see a doctor this year.
Published Illinois Medicaid dataIllinois kindergarten vaccination has fallen under the level that stops outbreaks like measles.
Illinois Department of Public HealthAt the right place (a school, a fair, a library) can catch a child up completely.
How our clinics are builtNot because families don't care. It's because clinics close at 5, buses run late, and parents can't miss work. Our answer is simple: bring the doctor to the school.
A Day at the Clinic
What a visit can look like
A mom works two jobs. Her two-year-old missed his last checkup because the pediatrician closes at 5 p.m., and he's behind on two vaccines. There's no lead test on record, and they live in an older building where lead is a real risk.
The Prism children's health van visits his neighborhood school the first Tuesday of every month. We call mom in her language, get her permission, and, with the school nurse, get him completely caught up in one visit. His older sister gets her shots at the next rotation.
That's the whole idea. No missed workdays. No waiting rooms. Just a healthy kid, ready for school.
Common Questions
What parents ask us.
How much does it cost?
Most services are free at community events. You don't need insurance, and no one is turned away.
What should I bring?
Nothing is required. If you have them, bring your child's shot records and any forms from school. We'll take it from there.
Can you fill out my child's school physical form?
Yes. Our clinicians complete the health exam and sports physical forms that Illinois schools require, right at the visit.
Does a parent need to be there?
Kids need a parent or guardian's permission for care. At school visits, we work with the school to reach you first by phone, in your language, and care happens under the supervision of the school nurse.
Will I get a record of the visit?
Yes. You'll leave with a record of everything done at the visit, and we can share it with your child's school and regular doctor.
What languages does your team speak?
English and Spanish at every event. We can arrange other languages. Just ask.
Get your kids caught up this season.
Find a Prism event near you for checkups, physicals, and vaccines, usually in a single visit.