Goleta Neighborhood Clinic Opens
Capps and Jackson Speak at Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics opened up their fourth location, the Goleta Neighborhood Clinic, on July 17. With a temporary center established in Goleta since 2014, the long-awaited ribbon-cutting ceremony for the permanent facility brought out a crowd of all those who had contributed to installing the new clinic, including Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Congresswoman Lois Capps.
A former public health nurse herself, Capps spoke of one of her initial goals upon entering Congress: to unify America’s health system, as well as the need for organizations such as Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) to carry out programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act.
“[Neighborhood clinics] are so vital in delivering healthcare that is accessible and affordable,” said Capps. “We all believe that’s important. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t.”
With the Eastside Clinic, the Westside Clinic, the Isla Vista Clinic, two dental clinics, and the new Goleta Clinic on Calle Real, SBNC defines themselves as “a critical health safety net for the Santa Barbara Community.” SBNC aims to provide great medical care despite the patient’s ability to pay.
The Goleta Clinic was established by a federal grant through the Affordable Care Act, yet the list of thank-you’s to everyone who has played a part in building the clinic is extensive. “To see how this village and the community members have given their time, this is truly what it means to be a village — to provide for those who are otherwise unable to provide for themselves,” said Jackson.
