The Effort, Inc. provides a full range of health care services for individuals, families and the Sacramento community in order to transform and improve lives. Each service is integrated in order to serve any patients need. Primary Care Clinics (agency wide) serve around 10,000-15,000 patients per year with an average of 2-3 visits per patient. Anyone may be seen at The Effort; no one is turned down.

Core Values: * Having a passion for the underserved. * Providing the best quality service. * Valuing employees and volunteers. * Maintaining a sustainable organization.

See also other local services & organizations.

History

The Effort, Inc. was established in 1953. The midtown clinic was established in 1969 and modeled the free clinics of Haight-Ashbury, but it wasn't until the late 1990's that The Effort was known as Sacramento's Safety Net Clinic.

Funds

The Effort, Inc. is a 501c3 Non-Profit Corporation. Private contracts, local, state and federal funding, all support The Effort, along with charitable giving. The Effort has many government contracts, such as: Federal Probation, Health Resources and Services Administration. The Effort, Inc. does not hold fundraisers, but will begin a Major Gifts Campaign, which will seek philanthropic/institutional size gifts.

Donations

Donations are welcome. Donators may choose which program to support or choose to have an unrestricted donation. Donations may be made via cash, check or credit card.

Listed below are different types of donations:

• Gifts of Cash – on-line donation.
• United Way Donor Designation – Just enter The Effort's donor number, 3176, on your payroll deduction form through your employer.
• Bequests from your Will – Name The Effort as a beneficiary in your will.
• Honor a Loved One – Name The Effort as the beneficiary of memorial gifts for your loved one or in honor of a loved one.
• Matching Gift Program at Work – Some employers will match your donation to local charities
• Major Gifts Program – Annual, quarterly, or monthly donations.

Listed below are the programs donators may choose to support:

• A Birth and Family Health prenatal and newborn program
• A Family Resource Center (North Highlands)
• Mental health counseling (various locations)
• Psychiatric treatment (various locations)
• FAST—Family and Adolescent Skills Training
• 2 children’s dental clinics and more in the pipeline
• A 28-bed Interim Care Program (ICP) for respite care
• A continuum of substance use and co-occurring disorders treatment (outpatient, residential & rehabilitation, detoxification)
• A T3 Program (Triage, Transport & Treatment) “frequent user program” serving the Sutter Emergency Departments
• Sacramento Violence Intervention Program (SVIP) Wrap around gang prevention program with Kaiser, South Sacramento.
• Treatment Services for Drug Court & Juvenile Justice
• A 24-hour Suicide Prevention Crisis Line
• A 24-hour Parent Support Line
• Suicide Prevention outreach to schools & community organizations
• Suicide Prevention outreach and training for community (schools, etc.) and agency (law enforcement, etc.) organizations.
• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for the Homeless –(MLK Village, Boulevard Court)
• The Effort/UC Davis Teaching Health Centers

Volunteers

Applications are available on their website. http://www.theeffort.org.

The application requires background information, volunteer experience and training, employment history and education. Volunteers are able to choose which volunteer opportunities they are interested in, which includes:

• Crisis Line Volunteer
• Community Service Volunteer
• Accounting Intern Volunteer
• Computer Intern Volunteer
• Counseling Intern Volunteer
• Clerical Intern Volunteer

Services

Health care services are provided, which includes:

• Primary health clinics
• Vaccinations
• Blood tests
• Pregnancy support
• Family planning
• Pediatrics
• Children's dental
• Individual and family counseling
• Inpatient and outpatient addictions treatment

and many more.

There are eight different locations around the Sacramento region to support patients with particular needs. Medicare and Medi-Cal insurances are accepted for patients who may need help applying for programs that help cover the costs. There is a sliding fee scale based on income available to patients without insurance. New patients must bring proof of income and photo I.D. to enrollment and eligibility appointment.

References

Email Interview with Richard W. Kuck, NCAC-I, RAS, Director of Facility Development, Executive Assistant The Effort, Inc.

TheEffort.org

—AmandaGarcia

This report was written for Cynthia Linville's English 1A class,CSUS Sacramento, Fall 2011.