Our History

The year was 1989, and Clark County was the only county in the State of Washington that did not have a clinic for patients who were low-income and uninsured.  The Greater Vancouver Council of Churches identified the need for a free clinic to serve children and adults.  Coincidentally, the SW Washington Health District was conducting a study to determine how many people in Clark County would be served by a free clinic.  These two interest groups, led by Dr. Samuel T. Beall and Father Edward Rankin, worked with the Clark County Medical Society and initiated a plan to start a clinic.  The plan was to have the Clinic function as a temporary program until certain anticipated changes in the national health care program went into effect.

The Free Clinic started with the name “Community Health Clinic” and saw its first patient in 1990.  It was staffed by volunteer medical professionals and a salaried quarter-time clinic director.   The Clinic operated one night a week, under the umbrella of the Community Foundation for SW Washington, and used the health district facilities on Fort Vancouver Way.  The Clinic received (and continues to receive) major support from SW Washington Medical Center, the Community Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Swift, Vancouver Rotary Foundation, NW Health Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Vancouver School District Foundation,  and many others.

The Clinic’s mission then, as now, is to provide free, compassionate, quality basic health care to children and adults who are otherwise unable to access such services.

By 1993, the Community Health Clinic had established itself as an integral part of the health care infrastructure for Clark County.  It also became apparent that what started out as a temporary program was now a permanent service that needed to be offered more than just once a week.  Guided by the clinic director, enough volunteer medical support was gathered to operate the Community Health Clinic two nights a week.

The Clinic steadfastly adhered to its mission and maintained a strong focus on addressing basic health problems before they became medical emergencies.   The Clinic also established a medication clearinghouse and took over the emergency prescription fund from the Clark County Medical Society to help with prescription needs.  To help administer the growth in Clinic programs, the clinic director started working three-quarter time and received assistance from a half time staff assistant and an AmeriCorps program volunteer.

After six years operating as a part of the Community Foundation for SW Washington, in 1996 the Community Health Clinic obtained its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation from the IRS.  

In 1999, the Community Health Clinic changed its name to Free Clinic of Southwest Washington and reached an exciting point in its life.  After many years of borrowing space, the Clinic was offered the opportunity to become a partner with the Vancouver School District (VSD) in the creation of the Jim Parsley Education, Family & Community Center.  The Center has offered the clinic the opportunity to develop more services and serve more people in need.  After a successful capital campaign, the Free Clinic moved into its new building in November 2001.

In 2008 the Clinic suffered the loss of Marcia Howery, who passed away from complications due to breast cancer.  Marcia was the Clinic's first employee when the doors opened for the first patient in 1990 and worked with Dr. Beall to create the largest free walk-in clinic in Washington.  Under her leadership as Clinic Director the Clinic grew to offer more services to an increasing number of community members who needed care. She was incredibly dedicated to her work at the Free Clinic and her passion for helping others lives on today through the many services offered at the Clinic.

Our clinic currently provides basic health care, dental services, vision care, immunizations, medication assistance, lice kits, health screenings, resource counseling, sports physicals and coordinated specialty care through Project Access Clark County.  The Free Clinic is able to care for over 16,000 patients a year because of the support we receive from our donors and volunteers.