What is a Free Clinic?
Free Clinics are private, non-profit, community or faith-based organizations that provide medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and/or mental health services at little or no cost to uninsured and underinsured people through the use of volunteer health professionals, community volunteers, and partnerships with other health providers. As of August 2010, there are 37 known Free Clinics in Washington State. The WFCA estimates that these clinics may have provided as many as 45,000 patient visits in 2009 alone. No two Free Clinics are alike, and the development of each clinic is guided by the community to meet identified health care needs using the community’s unique health care assets and resources.
What does the WFCA do?
The Washington Free Clinic Association, founded in 2008, is a private, non-profit 501c3 tax-exempt organization whose mission is to strengthen and support the Free Clinics of Washington through advocacy, education and professional networking. As with any professional industry, the individuals involved benefit from having an Association to represent and promote them, as well as to facilitate networking and circulation of best practices.
Save the Date!
The 7th Annual WFCA Conference is set for September 14th & 15th, 2012 in Tacoma, WA. Check here for updates. Registration will open in April, 2012.
