Welcome!

The Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free asthma care and education to children in underserved areas of Chicago.

Asthma in Chicago

Asthma is a chronic lung disease and in Chicago, asthma is a huge problem — the childhood asthma rate is one of the highest in the country. But many of the children are not receiving the medical care they need to stay healthy.

Coughing and wheezing caused by asthma can make it hard for children to play sports, study or even attend school. Severe asthma flare ups can require emergency hospital care, and can even be life threatening.

Our Mission

The mission of the Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation is to provide free and comprehensive asthma care and health education to children in Chicago's underserved communities via mobile medical clinics, the Asthma Vans.

Partnerships with dozens of Chicago schools and Head Start sites have made it possible for Mobile C.A.R.E. to bring asthma experts directly to the communities where asthma services are needed most.

How Does Mobile C.A.R.E. Work?

Mobile C.A.R.E. Clinical Assistant and Client With Spirometer

First, a participating Chicago school distributes a survey to its students. The survey determines which students might be experiencing asthma symptoms, and which families would like to use Mobile C.A.R.E. services. Then the school hosts a regularly occurring visit from a Mobile C.A.R.E. Asthma Van medical clinic.

Students visit the van with a parent or guardian to receive an initial asthma medical exam. Students who are found to have asthma receive medication and learn about the asthma “do’s and don’ts.” To help students stay healthy, Mobile C.A.R.E. provides follow-up visits, education and medication. All services and medications are free.

Asthma cannot be cured. But with a little help from Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation, thousands of children in Chicago—and their families—are finding that asthma can be controlled!

“I want to thank you for everything you've done for me and my asthma. You have given me medicine I really needed! I know that without you all I would probably be living in the hospital.”

“Without the Asthma Van helping my child and other children in this community, we would not be able to afford it and our children's health would go down.”