How Mendocino Coast Clinics came to be
When Mendocino Coast Clinics was founded as an independent, non-profit health center 30 years ago, it met the overwhelming need for increased medical services within our geographically isolated and medically underserved community. The only clinic in the area to provide services for patients regardless of their ability to pay, MCC improved options and filled gaps in the existing healthcare landscape. As MCC has grown and expanded, the voices of community members have always been the guideposts, helping to identify more ways to provide the quality, affordable care people deserve.
In the early days, we had a small clinic with seven employees. I was MCC's founding executive director, a role I continued to serve in until I retired at the end of 2015. Before becoming independent, county public health ran the clinic and served as “the healthcare provider of last resort” for the north coast. Becoming a nonprofit community health center allowed MCC to expand services and provide local people with needed options in addition to the already full private practices and or the busy hospital emergency department.
As a new organization, MCC needed to establish trust within the community. Everyone involved— staff, healthcare providers, volunteers, the board— reached out to community members to hear what they wanted and needed. In response to this feedback, MCC has grown and developed new services throughout the years. An expansion into behavioral health happened first, and then in 1996, local dentists requesting help to see Medi- Cal patients prompted us to open a dental clinic. Later, we included prenatal and women's health services when that need was identified. All along, we continued to expand our patient support services. Our language services began through our translator, Lucresha Renteria, who now serves as MCC's executive director.
The more we listened to the community, the more complete our list of health services became.
Over the years, we have learned about the types of careers people want. Listening was key; listening to licensed and support staff to identify what was needed to make the clinics run smoothly. For decades, we've prioritized “growing our own” staff, hiring local people whenever possible, and helping employees gain the on-the-job training and certifications needed to advance in their careers. Young women and men in our community have gained skills and expertise that will remain with them throughout their working lives. Of all MCC's achievements, building our own workforce and providing good job opportunities here at home is one of the things of which I am most proud.
From our earliest years, healthcare providers have been generous with their time and expertise. In the 1990s, Dr. George Miles, a retired dentist, volunteered to help us start our dental clinic, providing dental services for a few hours each week and sharing insights about how to expand services. Our first registered dental assistant completed the arduous program to obtain her certification while working and raising a family, attending weekend classes in San Francisco. Local behavioral health professionals also supported us, which allowed us to provide behavioral health services from the earliest days. When car accidents, suicides, or other traumatic events occurred in our community, MCC was able to mobilize counselors to support people through really tough times.
Every step of the way, MCC has pieced together whatever we had to make things better for the community. This required a combination of hiring and training local people, fundraising, working toward national healthcare field certifications, and participating in programs to access low- cost medications for people who needed them. If any of our patients needed transportation to appointments, staff worked to find them a way to access services. MCC has always invested in having onsite staff who assist patients in applying for programs that help pay for healthcare services. MCC's dedicated staff have always been the backbone of our connection to the community. Their belief in the mission has made MCC the success it is today
MCC would not be what it is today without the investment and insights of the local community, especially Liz Irwin, who worked from the beginning to increase access to healthcare on the coast and served as MCC's first board chair. MCC reached many critical milestones. In 2003, we became a federally qualified health center that provided federal dollars for MCC and its programs. Without this support and resource connections, patients would otherwise have gone without needed treatment and medications.
We are grateful for the people who supported MCC's growth over the years, allowing us to learn and improve to benefit our community. You have helped us fulfill our mission and provide highquality healthcare options to our community. Thank you.