Mobile clinic helping Oakland youth

...adults to get access to health care and other essential support. The Dream Youth Clinic first opened its doors in Oakland in 2017. Now they're unveiling some new programs and services to help the community. Here to tell us about it is Dr. Aisha Mays, the founder of the Dream Youth Clinic. Thanks for being in the studio with us. Thank you so much for having me. Of course. Tell us about the Dream Youth Clinic, how it got started, and what you all do. Yes, so we started Dream Youth Clinic in 2017 really to provide no-barrier medical services for young people. So we provide all free. free medical services, health care, mental health care, youth programs, youth leadership opportunities, and digital health education. And it's really a youth-led and youth-powered space for young people where they receive health care on their terms. And how many young people come in to use some of your services? What are the most popular ones? Yeah, so we see over 1,000 young people annually for all types of services. Our young people know they can drop in for free medical care, which is really huge. They can get any of their medical services needed. supported there also medical mental health services so they come in for individual therapy they also come in for groups and then our groups are really amazing our programs we have lots of programs for our young people where they have internships they can earn money during the school year as well for internships. How did you get the idea to start this? It's a heavy lift, a big project. Yes but it's really been amazing I really want to start something that was no barrier for young people and really open access. on young people's terms. So our youth can drop in when we're open. They don't have to make an appointment. They can just drop in. They can make an appointment if they want to. We also have telemedicine services. So it's really about having complete, full, open access for young people and also on youth's terms. So when you walk into Dream, you know it's a teen clinic because you're going to hear music the young people listen to. There's always snacks for young people. Our staff are really amazing, and they work with young people on their terms to support them in their development and really in their joy. You have some new programs that you're focusing on. Tell us about them. Yes, so we're so excited about some of our programs this winter that we've launched. One is really around supporting young people around their mental health. So we know the holidays can be a time where of joy and togetherness, but it also can be difficult for young people. It can be difficult for adults too. And so we have a new group that started on Thursdays from four to five called the Feelings Group, where young people can just come and talk about their feelings. And it's led by one of our mental health providers. And it's just a space of no judgment, No judgment, no diagnosis. No diagnosis, no stigma, where young people can just come and talk about their feelings. We also started a mobile clinic. So we also started a mobile clinic in January, specifically to serve young people on the streets of Oakland who are impacted by sex trafficking. We know that's a huge issue in our community, so we're right there in the community on International Boulevard, serving young people impacted by trafficking every day. What are some of the stories and the personal moments that you've experienced over the last 10 years that make you believe and know that this is all worth it? Oh, I just really love working with our young people. And every day when I see them and see the smiles on their faces, but also see the success that they have ushered into their own lives. We work a lot with our young mothers. And so I do a lot of work with young mothers. And so caring for our young mothers and their children and seeing them get the job that they've been wanting to get since they were in high school. Also caring for their babies every single day just gives me so much joy and lets me know that the work that we're doing at Dream is really impactful And it's really serving young people. This is such an important issue. We know health care was a major issue during, a political issue during the midterm election. We know that in 2027, there are a lot of people who are going to see their health care premiums go up, including their young adults who may be living at home or dependent on them. A lot of people may lose access to Medi-Cal. How are you preparing to meet what is expected to be a greater need? Yeah, you know, that's why we really think it's so essential to have no cost. services. So they're young people don't have to pay for anything at Dream Youth Clinic. They can come for medical services for free, mental health services for free, youth programs, youth leadership opportunities, internships. We also have medications on site. So we really try and provide everything on site for young people at no cost. And we fundraise for all of that. So the fundraising part is a major part of the work that we do so that we're able to continue our free medical services. So we welcome young people. We welcome them in 2027. We welcome seeing We're seeing more young people. We are here and ready to serve them, providing no-cost, youth-led, youth-centered care. And you need others in the community with resources, with means to support this project going forward. Absolutely. And Giving Tuesday is a really perfect time to do that. Giving Tuesday is a time right after Thanksgiving where nonprofits are often supported by the community. And so we are going to be having a major campaign for Giving Tuesday around our mobile clinic and some of our other youth services. So if people want to support. All right, Dr. Aisha Mays, thank you so much with the Dream Youth Clinic here in Oakland providing a lot of important services. So we appreciate you coming in to tell us all about it. Thank you so much for having me today. Of course. All right, Rosemary, we'll send it over to you with the check on our weather. All right, wonderful program. Good morning to all of you.