: General Medical, STD testing, Peer-Counciling, and more, for like us
Are you too strapped for money to afford medical insurance? Have you ever needed medical attention but ignored your sickness because a hospital visit would put you further into debt? Have you ever been afraid of sickness and injury because you simply cannot afford it? Do you feel that your well being must suffer to pay for school or rent? Despite the great difficulties in medical care that plague our country, there are options—there exist clinics where treatment is free . . .
Stressed out? Depressed? Ever feel like dropping out and giving up? Do you have any one to talk to about your life and the deep seeded issues which nag and perplex you? Do you need to talk to someone who wont judge, blame, or make assumptions about you? Holding your emotions, self-criticisms, and fears inside will not help your mental life or well being. There are people who can help you help yourself, and help you understand yourself, and understand why you replay those cycles of fear, depression and anxiety . . .
Got STDs or STIs? No? When is the last time you were tested? Have you ever been tested? Even the most cautious and innocent sexually active person could be a carrier. There is, however, no need to worry or to be afraid of your body, your partner, or your sex life as long as you are careful and use protection. BUT YOU STILL NEED TO BE TESTED . . .
Below is a list of services provided by the Berkeley Free Clinic. Please, do not let yourself suffer or go untreated when an option is only as far away as 2339 Durant Ave. Consider these options and do what is best for you.
[First, a Brief History]
The Berkeley Free Clinic was founded as a grassroots street-medicine project in 1969 by a group of activists in response to an overwhelming need for health care in the absence of state and federal programs and services. Their founding principle is that health care is a right, not a privilege, and that the provision of health care should be motivated by compassion, not profit.
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 32-year history.
Fees have never been charged for any services, medications, or supplies provided at the Berkeley Free Clinic. The Clinic relies solely on individual or organizational donations and government support. We are one of the only clinics in California, offering primary health care free of charge. We maintain that health care should be available at a level and quality sufficient to meet the basic needs of everyone regardless of race, gender, age, immigration status, income level, or any other characteristics.
A great deal of health care knowledge can and should be available and accessible to individuals such that they can have the power to recognize and respond to their own health issues. All services at the Free Clinic emphasize education, self-knowledge, and increasing awareness and access to appropriate resources.
The Clinic is collectively managed, with no authoritarian structure. The majority of services are provided by trained volunteers, and all members of the Collective have an equal voice and vote in decisions.
What you need to know and where you need to go:
Information Resource Collective (IRC) (510) 548-2570 ext. 6400
The Information and Referral Collective (IRC) provides information in areas such as addiction programs, medical needs, mental health resources, shelters, foodstuffs and meals, legal services, HIV and STD programs, and much more. To obtain information about health and social services in the community, or to have questions about the services of the Berkeley Free Clinic, please call the IRC!
We answer phones Sun. 4pm - 7pm, Mon. through Fri. 3pm - 9pm, and Sat. 8am – 5pm
Peer Counseling Services (510) 548-2744
This free, confidential service is provided by lay volunteers trained in active listening skills, and as such is NOT an appropriate resource if you want to get your prescription renewed: this is the basic, "talking therapy" approach. Ongoing scheduled individual counseling may be set up through drop-ins. Please call the Peer Counseling Collective for more information.
On Mon., Tue., Wed., and Thur. evenings, registration is accepted at 6:45 PM for the drop-in service.
General Medical Services (510) 548-4811 or (800) 6-CLINIC
The Berkeley Free Clinic is open for general medical services in the evenings Mon. - Fri. We will be offering only TB services on Tues evenings, while general medical services will be provided on all other weeknights. Please call at 5:45 PM to arrange a same-evening appointment.
HOW TO GET HIV SERVICES AT THE BERKELEY FREE CLINIC (510) 644-0425
The HIV Prevention Services Collective of the Berkeley Free Clinic offers anonymous HIV antibody testing, with results available the following weekend. This free service is offered on a drop-in basis only for all clients on Sun evening.
Sign-in starts as early as 4:00 p.m., but we don’t start seeing clients until 4:30. Doors remain open until 7:00, which means that if you sign-in for services by 7 p.m., we will test you that evening.
On Sat, we have drop-in testing and results (the following week) for women only 12 noon - 2 p.m. (Men are welcome to come as support for their partners/friends, but they cannot get an HIV test on Saturday).
Because the tests are anonymous, you must hold on to your printed test number when you return for the results. Results are available the following week and will be held for 8 weeks after the test. There is drop-in results service for women and men on Sat. 4 - 5 p.m. or Sun. 4 - 7 p.m.