Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    SINCE 1994, WESTMINSTER FREE CLINIC (WFC) (ORGANIZATION) HAS BEEN AN INNOVATIVE NONPROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY OF UNINSURED, WORKING-POOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO THRIVE BY PROVIDING FREE HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH-SUPPORTING SERVICES, MEETING THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS, AND SERVING AS A TRAINING SITE FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE. THE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE: 1) TO SERVE AS A COMMUNITY CARE CENTER, PROVIDING EASY ACCESS TO FREE HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH-SUPPORTING SERVICES TO HARD-TO-REACH POPULATIONS FACING TRANSPORTATION, LANGUAGE, CULTURAL AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO CARE; AND 2) TO PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH A PATHWAY TO CAREERS IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND HANDS-ON TRAINING IN THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH, DENTAL AND VISION CARE. TO MEET ITS GOALS, WFC MOBILIZES OVER 600 VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY--INCLUDING 200+ MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, 150+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS, 200+ HIGH SCHOOL AND 50 COLLEGE STUDENTS--TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY FOR THE UNINSURED. THROUGH ITS LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 30 ORGANIZATIONS, ALL SERVICES ARE COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE AND ARE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH/ENGLISH.FOR OVER 20 YEARS, WFC HAS BEEN MEETING THE BASIC, ESSENTIAL HEALTH NEEDS AND SUPPORTS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH OF THE WHOLE PERSON FOR LOW-INCOME UNINSURED RESIDENTS OF EAST VENTURA COUNTY THROUGH ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION IN THOUSAND OAKS. IN 2020, WFC OPENED A SECOND CLINIC SITE IN OXNARD TO SERVE THE UNINSURED RESIDENTS OF WEST VENTURA COUNTY. WFC FILLS A UNIQUE GAP IN THE LOCAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO FREE BASIC HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH-PROMOTING SERVICES TO UNINSURED WORKING POOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE GO WITHOUT CARE. OVER THE YEARS, WFC HAS BEEN THE PROVIDER OF CHOICE FOR UNINSURED SPANISH-SPEAKING LATINX IN VENTURA COUNTY. WFC HAS A WELL-ESTABLISHED REPUTATION AND IS HIGHLY TRUSTED BY THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION. WFC'S STAFF, WHICH IS MADE UP PRIMARILY OF LATINX SPANISH-SPEAKING WOMEN, ARE REFLECTIVE OF AND SHARE SIMILAR LIVED EXPERIENCES AS THE PATIENT POPULATION SERVED, WHICH UNIQUELY POSITIONS THE ORGANIZATION TO DELIVER ALL ITS PROGRAMS IN A CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY COMPETENT MANNER. STAFF ARE CHARGED WITH COORDINATING ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF VOLUNTEERS AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO DELIVER FREE SERVICES. WFC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESSES THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING OUR TARGET POPULATION OF LOW-INCOME UNINSURED PATIENTS HEALTHY.IN 2020, WFC REMAINED OPEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC TO ENSURE ACCESS TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO WERE MOST IMPACTED, WHILE FOLLOWING COVID RESTRICTIONS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS. FREE SERVICES INCLUDE PRIMARY CARE, MEDICATIONS, LABS, MAMMOGRAMS, FLU VACCINES AND COVID TESTING, DIABETES HOME TEST KITS, PHYSICAL THERAPY AND CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES, PODIATRY, CASE MANAGEMENT, NUTRITION COUNSELING, EMERGENCY DENTAL SERVICES, AND MUCH MORE. ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS (EHR) ENHANCE THE CLINIC'S CAPACITY AND QUALITY OF CARE. WFC PROVIDES ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS FOR 600+ FAMILIES WEEKLY (56,668 INDIVIDUALS IN 2020) FROM ACROSS VENTURA COUNTY, INCLUDING FRESH PRODUCE AND OTHER STAPLE FOODS. EATING PROCESSED FOODS HIGH IN SUGAR AND SALT CONTENT POSES A SERIOUS RISK FOR POOR GLUCOSE CONTROL AND CAN LEAD TO HYPOGLYCEMIC EPISODES FOR THOSE WHO ARE DIABETICS. FOR THAT REASON, WFC ONLY DISTRIBUTES HEART-HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS INCLUDING FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, DRY BEANS, OATMEAL, LENTILS AND BROWN RICE, THUS MAKING EATING HEALTHY FOODS THE EASY CHOICE FOR OUR PATIENTS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.6M

  • Program 2 [2020]

    THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH, LED BY WFC'S BILINGUAL TEEN INTERNS IN SALUD, SERVE AS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND SCREENS PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. THEY ALSO WORK WITH LATINO MARKETS TO OFFER HEALTHIER FOOD OPTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION'S CORAZONES SANOS (HEALTHY HEARTS) PROGRAM AND DIABETIC SPECIALTY CLINIC EMPOWER CLINIC PATIENTS TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR HEALTH, BECOME HEALTH LITERATE, EDUCATE OTHERS, AND RECEIVE THE EXTRA SUPPORT THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. THIS PROGRAM WAS ONLY IN OPERATION PART OF 2020 DUE TO COUNTY AND STATE RESTRICTIONS. SALUD STUDENTS ALSO FOCUS ON EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROVIDE PRESENTATIONS TO ENGLISH LEARNING PARENTS, AS WELL AS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS TO HELP THEM KNOW THE CHALLENGES FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS FACE, WHAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED, AND HOW PARENTS CAN HELP. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY ESSENTIAL DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED AND THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BECAME MORE OBVIOUS. THEY ALSO SHARE THEIR OWN COLLEGE GOALS AND ACADEMIC SUCCESSES AND CREATE PARENTAL AWARENESS OF AG REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO A 4-YEAR COLLEGE. ONE OF THE SALUD STUDENTS' GOALS IS TO CREATE A COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY, AND TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO SUCCESS FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. THE LEVEL OF ONE'S EDUCATION IS AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH AND LONGEVITY. THE STUDENTS CREATED A VIDEO/DOCUMENTARY AND WHITE PAPER FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHERS THIS YEAR TO CREATE AWARENESS OF DIGITAL DIVIDE BARRIERS TO LEARNING FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC. OUTREACH EXTENDED TO OTHER IMMEDIATE NEEDS IN THE FORM OF SUPPORTS TO DECREASE ECONOMIC STRESS FOR FAMILIES WITHOUT WORK DUE TO THE PANDEMIC INCLUDING CLOTHING DONATIONS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, MASKS, AND MORE.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $899.1K

  • Program 3 [2020]

    WFC'S HEALTHCARE CAREERS TRAINING AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PREPARES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS IN THE GROWING HEALTHCARE SECTOR. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TEENS WITH TRAININGS, ADULT MENTORSHIP, PEER SUPPORT, SERVICE LEARNING, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING. MORE THAN HALF OF THE 165+ HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM EACH YEAR ARE LOW-INCOME, FIRST-GENERATION LATINX STUDENTS, AND MOST ARE THE CHILDREN OUR CLINIC PATIENTS. STUDENTS ASSIST PHYSICIANS IN THE DELIVERY OF CARE AND GAIN HANDS-ON-TRAINING IN BASIC CLINICAL SKILLS. COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING, AND FREE MATH TUTORING RESULT IN OVER 85% ENROLLMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S STUDENTS IN COLLEGE AFTER GRADUATION. AS PART OF THEIR INTERNSHIP AT WFC, SOME STUDENTS COMPLETE THE COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT. WFC'S TEENS WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR VOLUNTEER SERVICE BY THE VENTURA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR IN 2020. THE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS RATE OF PLACING FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS IN COLLEGE AND THE OVERALL PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS IN OUTSTANDING UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM IN THE COMMUNITY.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $162.6K