Our founding principle is that health care is a right, not a privilege, and that the provision of health care should be not be motivated by profit.

An emphasis on education, self-knowledge and an increasing awareness of appropriate resources infuses all of our medical, dental, counseling, and information/referral services. Direct services are provided almost exclusively by volunteer lay health care workers. Volunteers receive extensive and specific training in classroom and clinical settings. Whenever possible, our goal is to demystify health care and other human services, both for volunteers of the Clinic and for clients.

Description:
The Clinic is collectively governed, with all authority delegated by the volunteer membership. Trained volunteers provide the majority of services and all members of the Collective have an equal voice and vote in decisions.

History:
The Free Clinic was founded in 1969 as a grassroots 'street medicine' clinic. A group of activists wanted to respond to an overwhelming need for healthcare in the absence of state and federal programs and services. Since the Clinic opened, there has been an ever-present need for its services, albeit a dynamic need, as social conditions have undergone shifts and changes. It has become something of an icon in the area, and has served countless thousands in a variety of ways during its 35-year history. Its founding principles and structures survive to this day.

Contact person: Nicole Chao, Medical Coordinator, (510) 548-2570, (email)

Address:

2339 Durant Ave Berkeley, CA 94704 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.berkeleyfreeclinic.org

Directions:

Cross street is Dana, one block down from Telegraph Ave.