Blue Shield Promise and Episcopal Community Services bring well-child visits, mammograms and other essential services directly to families in Chula Vista

*Blue Shield Promise brings routine check-ups closer to busy families at the FEC. April 2026.*

Every parent knows the feeling when your child isn’t well, and nothing matters more than getting them the care they need. Whether it’s a sudden illness, a developmental concern, or simply staying on track with routine check-ups, health care should never be out of reach, but it can be for many families.

Barriers like long work hours, transportation challenges, and cost can stand in the way of families getting even the most basic care. And too often, those barriers mean putting off visits that are essential to an individual’s health and future.

That’s why Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is working to bring care to meet our members where they are—close to home, work, or school. In San Diego County, we are bringing combination well-child events to Episcopal Community Services’ (ECS) Family Engagement Center—a place where families already feel seen, supported, and connected in the Chula Vista community.

Families arrived to get their kid’s annual check-ups, women due for their mammogram screenings got them done on the spot, and fluoride treatments were applied to teeth. Families were connected to critical services and resources in their community and received assistance with their Medi-Cal coverage as needed.

“Meeting people where they are can change everything,” said Jennifer Schirmer, vice president of growth and community engagement for Blue Shield Promise. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with trusted organizations like ECS to support families and ensure they have access to the care they need to thrive. Together, we are not only providing essential health screenings, we’re helping remove barriers families face every day.”

*A nurse checks a child’s height. April 2026.*

For Cynthia, a mother of two, these events have made all the difference. She joined Blue Shield Promise two years ago and has brought her daughters to several well-child events. “I’m always trying to be on top of their appointments,” she said. “They see the doctor like twice a year because of [these events].”

Once Cynthia and her daughters were checked in, a nurse called them back to measure their height and weight, provide a fluoride treatment, and ask Cynthia some questions about their overall health and development. In all, 109 children and 55 women received services at the event.

For Blue Shield Promise Program Manager Amanda Ruiz, who helps lead these efforts, the impact is personal: “It’s more than providing care in the moment and about making sure families feel connected, supported, and empowered long after they leave.”

So far, two well-child events have been hosted with Episcopal Community Services in 2026, with a third planned later this year.

“When care comes to a place where families already feel seen and supported, it lifts a real weight off their shoulders,” said Rosa Cabera-Jaime, ECS’ Director of Early Education and Family Services. “Access becomes possible, and children get the chance to learn, grow, and truly thrive. This partnership is breaking down barriers that have stood in families’ way for far too long; today's investment decides tomorrow.”

Blue Shield Promise mobile mammograms and well-child visits are by appointment only and are available in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. For information, reach out to member services at (800) 605-2556 (Los Angeles County) or (855) 699-5557 (San Diego County).

For more information about these community-focused programs, visit the ECS Family Engagement Center at https://www.ecscalifornia.org/fec and Blue Shield Promise at https://www.blueshieldca.com/en/bsp.

Coauthored by Blue Shield California and ECS Communications