Without health insurance, how can a local resident obtain reproductive health care services? Community Action Partnership runs two reproductive health clinics, The Centers for Health and Prevention (each referred to as “The Center”) - one in San Luis Obispo and one in Arroyo Grande. Both provide free and low-cost pregnancy testing, contraception, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, HIV testing and counseling, and screening for reproductive cancers.
“The Center provides access to non-judgmental healthcare and education for people who have no insurance and very few options for getting care” says Kathy Di Peri, client of The Center. “It is free or low cost, but the clinic doesn’t feel like a “free clinic”, and the staff treats patients with respect and kindness,” she says. For those who do not qualify for CenCal or FPACT, fees are charged on a sliding scale based on income and family size. “No one is turned away for inability to pay,” says Kayla Wilburn, Clinic Manager.
The Center is also the only clinic offering women ages 40 and older targeted services, such as clinical breast exams, pap smears, referrals for free mammograms and other recommended reproductive health services at low to no-cost. The Center’s “Forty Wonderful” program helps women maintain their health and even saves lives through the detection of breast and cervical cancer at their early, more treatable stages.
“Emily,” age 51, is the single mother of a developmentally disabled adult child. Despite working two part-time jobs, she has no health insurance and the income from her two jobs minimally covers monthly living expenses. Regular preventive healthcare is a luxury Emily cannot afford. A friend told Emily about free breast cancer screenings at The Center. Emily made an appointment and received a free clinical breast exam and referral for a free mammogram at French Medical Center.
Emily’s mammogram results were abnormal, so The Center’s case manager enrolled her in the State of California’s Cancer Detection Program (CDP), which covered the cost of her diagnostic mammogram and eventual biopsy. Emily was able to receive the diagnostic care she needed, without adding a devastating financial burden to the emotional and physical challenges she already faced. The results of Emily’s biopsy were normal, and she plans to return The Center for her annual well-woman exam and referral for free mammogram in October 2012.
The Center also offers “Teen Clinics” with teen-only hours. These are the only clinics in the county where teen staff are hired and trained to work as medical assistants. The hired teens provide education and counseling to youth their own age. They help them make healthy choices and share information to prevent unintended pregnancy, avoid STI’s and HIV. “Teens are more likely to listen to their peers than to older adults,” says Wilburn, “and during the afternoons when the teens run their clinic, the energy level really goes up-- it’s fun!”
This year, The Center was nominated for the 2011 Paul Wolff Accessibility Advocacy Award. This award recognizes and rewards individuals, organizations, and businesses for outstanding efforts to create a more accessible San Luis Obispo County. The nomination was made because The Center advocates for and reaches out to diverse populations often underserved in our community, including teens, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning individuals), menopausal, substance abusing, homeless and monolingual individuals. Regardless of their circumstances or need, clients are treated with respect and compassion by a caring staff of professionals. Each clinic is also ADA accessible, with exam rooms set up to provide for people with disabilities.
The Center staff is bilingual in English and Spanish to ensure individuals receive culturally competent medical education and services in their native language. The Center has been providing free and low-cost reproductive health services since the 1970s. Together, the two clinics average 10,000 client visits per year and serve more than 5,000 individuals per year.
For more information please call Kayla Wilburn at (805)544-2498(x21) or visit www.capslo.org.
Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County is a non-profit agency that focuses on helping people and changing lives through serving nearly 40,000 persons across Central and Southern California. The agency is committed to eliminate poverty by empowering individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency and self-determination through a comprehensive array of community-based programs.
