PORT TOWNSEND — The quarters that Jefferson County Medical and Advocacy Service Headquarters, or JC MASH, moved into this fall are more accessible for clients of the free clinic and will allow it to expand services, staff members say.
Staff, volunteers and supporters of the clinic gathered last week for a reception at the new headquarters at 1136 Water St., Suite 109, eating pie while discussing the move’s impact on its clients and the community.
The Port Townsend office of the nonprofit clinic, which also has an office in Port Hadlock, had offered services in the basement of the American Legion Hall at 209 Monroe St., since August 1994 and moved this fall to the new site.
The American Legion provided the space rent-free.
While the staff is grateful for the hospitality of the American Legion over the years, the new office — with four rooms and open spaces that can be used for larger gatherings — provides a more appropriate clinic environment, staff members said.
“We hope to offer services that weren’t possible out of the basement of the Legion,” said Dr. James Kimber Rotchford, medical director, board member and one of the clinic’s founders.
“We are grateful for their help, but this allows us to better serve the people who need help,” he added.
JC MASH — founded in 1993 to provide medical services to patients who could not pay or were unable to seek care in institutional settings — offers medical assessments, youth mental counseling, chemical dependency counseling and medical referrals, according to the clinic’s website at www.jcmash.com.
The new location is on a public bus line and is adjacent to parking, the website says.
Medical services are offered from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
No one is turned away because of a lack of ability to pay, the website says.
The Youth Mental Health Clinic offers group therapy sessions from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Tuesday. Appointments are available from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each Thursday, with a drop-in period extending to 7 p.m.
A support group meets from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. the last Monday of each month.
Outside of those hours, those in need can call 360-379-2630.
The service is meant to spot and treat mental health difficulties in youth before they become greater problems for the individuals and for society, Rotchford said.
“We are looking for people who are underserved for any reason, making it easier for them to get into the system and get treatment for their conditions,” he said.
“There is a whole segment of the population that has difficulty getting access,” Rotchford added.
“If you don’t address a mental issue early, there can be consequences for the whole community, financially, legally and socially.”
The biggest challenge for the clinic is to make sure those in need know these services are available, according to the staff.
“We are hoping to broaden the safety net and get the word out in order to help as many kids as possible,” said Karen Ciccarone, a registered nurse who is the mental health clinic manager.
“We can offer an alternative that is hassle-free, and we won’t cut off anyone who needs the help.”
Registered Nurse Joan Cole is the clinic manager and volunteer coordinator.
Port Hadlock
JC MASH operates a second medical clinic in Port Hadlock at the Medical Clinic at 121 Oak Bay Road in Kively Center.
Ken Brown, a licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner, volunteers there from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each Thursday.
JC MASH paid staff includes one registered nurse and one licensed mental health counselor, according to the website. All others are volunteers. All medical professionals are currently licensed in the state of Washington.
Funding for JC MASH is from United Good Neighbors, Rotary Club of Port Townsend, local churches and private donors. Donations to the 501(3)(c) are tax-deductible.
Donations can be made to JC MASH Medical or JC MASH Youth Mental Health. To make a donation, contact Steve Rafoth, treasurer at steverafoth@jcmash.com.
For more information, see www.jcmash.com, phone 360-385-4268, or contact Cole at joancole@jcmash.com. For information specifically about the youth mental health clinic, email karen@jcmash.com.
