Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH), a leading nonprofit provider of high-quality, affordable, experienced a year of growth and resilience in 2022 as SCCH opened two new clinics in Santa Cruz County to improve the health of its patients and the community.
The two new health centers include: one in a beautifully restored former church in Ben Lomond to serve a rural and underserved area of the county, and a 20,000-square-foot primary care clinic in the heart of Live Oak.
In January 2022, SCCH opened the Santa Cruz Mountain Health Center in the historic Wee Kirk Church located at the corner of Central and Main, just down the street from the Ben Lomond post office. The clinic space previously housed Dr. Steven Leib’s family medicine practice, prior to his retirement in 2021.
The new Live Oak Health Center serves the primary care needs of all people and all ages, regardless of their ability to pay, through high-quality, patient-centered care. Located at 1510 Capitola Road in Live Oak, the 20,000-square-foot Live Oak Health Center opened Dec. 6 to provide primary care, mental health care, acupuncture and chiropractic care. The new clinic replaces the East Cliff Family Health Center and is co-located with Dientes Community Dental Care and affordable housing that is being developed by MidPen Housing.
“The remarkable Live Oak ‘Health and Housing’ hub will increase access to medical, behavioral health, acupuncture, chiropractic, dental, and even legal services — not to mention adding 57 units of affordable housing,” Leslie Connor, CEO, said. “We remain as dedicated as ever to improving the health of our patients and the community and advocating the feminist goals of social, political, and economic equality.”
Both the Santa Cruz Mountain Health Center and the Live Oak Health Center are now open and accepting patients. Most health insurances are accepted including MediCal and a sliding scale for the uninsured. Call to schedule an appointment: 831-427-3500. More information at www.schealthcenters.org.
SCCH served 12,193 patients in FY 2022 through 66,657 patient visits.
About Santa Cruz Community Health
Santa Cruz Community Health’s (SCCH) mission is to improve the health of our patients and the community and advocate the feminist goals of social, political, and economic equality. Driven by a 48-year commitment to health care as a human right, Santa Cruz Community Health is a leading nonprofit provider of high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive health services in English and Spanish to all ages, gender identities, ethnicities, abilities, and sexual orientations, regardless of their ability to pay. SCCH (a Federally Qualified Health Center) operates three health centers (downtown Santa Cruz, Live Oak, and Ben Lomond) serving over 13,000 low-income patients including over 2,000 individuals experiencing homelessness. SCCH’s clinics offer primary care, pediatrics, prenatal care and education, mental health and substance use treatment, chronic disease management, health insurance enrollment, food distribution, and more. Learn more at schealthcenters.org, facebook.com/schealthcenters or on Instagram @schealthcenters.