History
In 1974, a small group of dedicated community leaders and health care providers came together and started the Women’s Health Care Project as part of a larger social justice movement in Santa Monica, California. They helped women learn more about their bodies and their health, shared experiences and empowered them through knowledge. What is now Westside Family Health Center expanded to include prenatal care, pediatric services, adolescent health care and a family practice program that includes a strong healthy aging component.
As a natural development of our reproductive health services, the Prenatal Clinic opened in 1990. In 1992, the Pediatric Program was established in response to alarming statistics on the growing number of uninsured children living in our community. With the rise of teen pregnancies and health issues related to young women and men, WFHC began an Adolescent Health Service program in 1994 to raise awareness and meet the particular needs of teens. In 1999 the Family Practice program was launched to provide care for general medical problems not covered by our other programs.
For 37 years we have been an integral part of the Westside community, serving low-income men, women, children, and the uninsured population. Last year we saw 9,202 patients in 29,601 visits.