No jobs and no health insurance. More families across Western Colorado are finding themselves uncertain of where to turn when they get sick. The Marillac Clinic has been caring for uninsured Mesa County residents for years. But, they believe many others in need still don't realize their services are available.

For doctors and staff at the clinic, this is Safety Net Clinic Week. Between August 30th and September 3rd, Marillac and other community funded clinics across Colorado are spreading the word about what they do.

"We want to be the safety net that helps them through this difficult time in their life," Marillac Clinic Executie Director Steve Hurd, Ph.D., explains

Doctors at the clinic provide a full range of medical treatments. They hope patients will see this as an alternative to taking routine medical problems to the emergency room. The staff also tries to treat all of the patient's needs in one place, including regular medical care, dental services and more.

"We have mental health clinicians working alongside our medical providers. We also do vision care so we assess a persons eyesight and help them a pair a glasses. We also provide low cost medication," Hurd explains.

Marillac and other community funded clinics were shocked to learn they were not included in the federal health care reform bill.

"We are not able to access the extra support that is in the law to provide care for the needy and the vulnerable members of our society," Hurd says.

Clinics like Marillac are not federally funded. That means they are free from government red tape and have the freedom to use local input to design their program. But it also creates funding challenges.

"We get considerable support from Saint Mary's Hospital," Hurd says. The clinic also relies on donations from the community and support from various foundations. Patients help too. "Everyone who comes to the clinic pays an affordable amount based on a sliding scale. So, twenty-one percent of our income comes from the patients themselves," Hurd explains.

The clinic doesn't have enough resources to help everyone. They have to turn away folks who make more than a certain amount. If you think Marillac Clinic could help you, give them a call at 255-1782 or log onto www.marillacclinic.com

To learn more about community funded clinics in other parts of the state log onto www.clinicnet.org