Women’s Clinic

At The Women’s Clinic…continued

The first thing you notice when you walk into the clinic is how relaxed everyone is. Women are laughing, sitting together at the tables, and enjoying a hot bowl of soup or a grilled cheese sandwich provided by the Organic Soup Kitchen. Some sit on couches watching television. Clinic volunteers sit and chat with the women. Even when crowded, the atmosphere is laid-back.

For many of the women, the safe environment of the clinic is just as healing as the services that are provided there. “I have made so many friends here. I can be silly here,” says Diane, an older woman who smiles easily. However, the ability to laugh was something that Diane had to relearn.

Diane’s story is evidence of the importance of shelters and support organizations for women. Like many women who end up homeless, the root cause of Diane’s troubles was domestic abuse. Diane first experienced domestic violence as a child. Her father was an alcoholic who beat her mother. “I grew up to be like my mother,” Diane recalls. At a young age, she married a man who was physically abusive and also had problems with drugs and alcohol.

Despite the hardships she suffered at home, Diane had a successful career taking care of other people. After high school, she entered nursing school, and worked for 17 years as a nurse in a county hospital in the Oregon. She left nursing to become a caretaker for the elderly so that she would have more time for her children. However, Diane was unable to prevent the cycle of violence and substance abuse from continuing to the next generation.

As they got older, all three of her children became increasingly involved with gang-related activities. Soon after the death of her husband eight years ago, her eldest son started to become physically abusive with Diane. Her relationship with her eldest daughter also fell apart. When Diane’s daughter became abusive with her own young children, Diane intervened, incurring her daughter’s anger.

The threatened well being of her grandchildren ignited a kind of rebellion within Diane. She began to push back against the abusive dynamics within her family. However, this only served to alienate Diane and anger family members. From there, her relationship with her family completely deteriorated.

Diane’s situation became desperate when she got into a car accident two years ago, suffering a spinal injury and needing surgery. During her recovery, she suffered from neglect at the hands of her children. “My daughter took over my house. They withheld food and medication. I couldn’t take care of myself.” Even though her children had control of all her money and she was still unable to work, Diane knew she had to leave.

After several failed attempts to flee to nearby women’s shelters, Diane finally made it to a shelter in central California and then finally, to Casa Esperanza in Santa Barbara. At Casa, she has received counseling and help with food stamps and homeless insurance. “I know how to be strong now. I can protect myself from abuse.” Diane credits her new strength to the support she has found in Santa Barbara. Diane relies on the encouragement she receives at the Women’s Clinic and feels optimistic about her future. With the help of grants from Santa Barbara City College, Diane is registered to begin classes next semester to renew her nursing license.

Diane describes the Women’s Clinic as being “a very well run place, filled with lots of love and support.” That is exactly what Doctors Without Walls had in mind when envisioning the clinic. DWW’s idea was to create a stress-free environment where women can feel comfortable enough to be more open with the doctors about their needs.

The clinic aims to be more than a place where women can see a doctor or talk to a social worker. It’s a place where women can get an emotional lift. Every so often, the clinic sponsors a “Diva Day” where city college cosmetology students come to give haircuts and do make-up. Diva Day is more than just fun to the women; it’s a boost to their self-esteem. However, the most important element of the clinic is the people who are involved. Student volunteers play a major role in organizing and coordinating the clinic. They provide much of the clinic’s energy, spending time with the women and making sure that everything runs smoothly. Doctors, nurses, and social workers volunteer their time and expertise, providing the clinic’s essential services. Finally, the women themselves contribute to the clinic. The warmth and encouragement that the women offer each other is what makes the clinic so special. Women go to the clinic for its medical and hospitality services, but find friendship and comfort.