Free Dental and Vision Care Clinics

Health care access

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Healing California believes that access to quality health care is a basic human right. In Los Angeles in 2019, 75% of adults enrolled in Medi-Cal dental care did not have an annual dental visit. Vision care, especially prescription glasses, is very expensive. Accessing services through Medi-Cal or Denti-Cal can be daunting, or impossible for those who lack an official ID. Thousands of disabled and/or homeless veterans are ineligible to receive services from the VA. Poor oral health severely limits the ability of individuals to obtain and maintain employment, housing, and other life necessities, and can lead to and exacerbate other ailments, causing endocarditis, contributing to cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and birth complications, and pneumonia. Vision impairments can also affect employability and lead to isolation, depression, and more. Staying housed, fed, safe, and employed take precedence over the stress of finding accessible treatment, and health issues exacerbates stress.

We provide free, no barrier, quality dental and vision care to uninsured and underrepresented Los Angelenos, including veterans and unhoused individuals and families. In collaboration with community-based organizations, health clinics, and veterans organizations, we host pop-up clinics across LA County that have the highest need for services, providing care to an average of 100 dental and vision patients per day. Healing California brings all the equipment and supplies – full mobile dental field units for cleanings, fillings, and extractions, x-rays, vision testing equipment, and mobile optical lab to make prescription glasses on site – to the partner and rallies the volunteers to staff the clinic and provide services. We coordinate with the partner on the number of stations and providers needed. The partner provides the space and the patients. By building these partnerships in multiple neighborhoods, Healing California serves diverse populations throughout Los Angeles and builds trust with individuals who have suffered at the hands of health care systems in the past. In Los Angeles, in one year, we will host 12+ clinics covering every SPA. We do not require proof of income, citizenship, or veteran discharge status; paperwork is limited to the minimum necessary to provide care. Healing California does not charge either the partner or the patient for services and provides language interpretation whenever possible. Above all, we treat all patients with dignity and respect.

By providing free, quality, integrated dental and vision services in one location to those who need it most, Healing California is a champion for equitable healthcare coverage for all people. Our providers cure infection and alleviate pain; they help people smile with confidence and see clearly again; we help people feel better so they can meet other life challenges presented to them.
We make the safety, health and dignity of our patients our priority. We value the trust they have placed in us. In addition, we provide a uniquely positive and rewarding volunteer experience, to create enthusiastic long-term partners in our mission as well train the next generation of compassionate and socially aware health care providers.
We focus on improving the health of Angelenos one at a time. Every individual who is freed of the pain and stress of dental issues or is able to see again can place more of their heart and attention on living, playing, working, and creating in Los Angeles.

Our overall goal is the number of patients served. The goal for each clinic will be to provide 100+ patients with dental exams and treatment, eye exams, and two pairs of glasses, if needed. Last year, in Los Angeles , we served 1,560 patients. Qualitative assessments including post-clinic volunteer feedback surveys, and patient testimonials provide information about satisfaction with services; and focused and intentional follow-up discussions with partner agencies assess the efficiency and effectiveness of clinic operations, analyze the overall success of each event, determine additional requirements and areas of improvement. Ratings for patient satisfaction for the first half of 2024 are above 90%.
Healing California prioritizes offering volunteers a chance to develop personally and professionally. One dental student shared: “I appreciated the chance to work with a diverse group of people and learn from them, especially the dentists I worked with.”