Clearwater Free Clinic Receives $25,000 Grant from Community Foundation Tampa Bay

Funds from the Community Foundation Tampa Bay will go towards integrated mental healthcare at the Clearwater Free Clinic.

Clearwater, FL – The Clearwater Free Clinic (CFC) has developed a model of integrated healthcare where patients can receive support for their physical and chronic conditions and mental health challenges at one location as part of our comprehensive care plan. The Community Foundation Tampa Bay has awarded the CFC $25,000 to continue to expand our Behavioral Health Program through their competitive grants program.

“About 98 percent of patients in the Behavioral Health Program have experienced some sort of trauma,” said Laurie Deer, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). “Studies link past trauma to poor medical health.”

Behavioral health care is not something that would normally be accessible to people living at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. The financial cost is far too great. CFC patients can be referred to the Behavioral Health Clinic for a number of reasons, including depression, anxiety, existential concerns and interpersonal functioning. Since the expansion of our Behavioral Health Program at the Clinic, over 86% of our patients have reported that their health has improved.

The funds from this grant will be used to expand the new art and music therapy classes provided to our patients. In addition, these funds will also support the continuation of women’s therapy groups to support our female patients who have or are experiencing physical, mental, or emotional trauma.

The Community Foundation Tampa Bay grant is made possible due to the generosity of the donors who contribute to the following funds: the Barbara Anne Cole Legacy Fund, the Kathleen M. Moore and Nicholas E. Nitch Endowment, the Josephine G. Perry Estate, and the Spencer Hall Memorial Endowment for Mental Health.

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Founded in 1977, the Clearwater Free Clinic provides comprehensive, integrated medical and behavioral health services to low-income uninsured residents of Pinellas County. Today, the Clinic supports nearly 4,000 patients each year and continues to be largely volunteer-driven. The CFC is the only free clinic in Pinellas County that sees children. The Clinic is located at 1218 Court Street in Clearwater and housed in an 11,000 sq. healthcare facility.

The mission of the Clearwater Free Clinic is to deliver comprehensive medical care to uninsured families through volunteerism and community partnerships… Building healthy communities.