Contra Costa Health (CCH) now offers free school and sports physical exams as well as confidential reproductive health services for eligible students at Contra Costa County’s three community colleges.
Beginning this week, CCH mobile clinics will visit each of Contra Costa Community College District’s (4CD) main campuses weekly to offer services such as reproductive education and services, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and general physicals.
“College is a time of transition and learning. With classwork, jobs, and daily demands, health can fall lower on the list," said Dr. Grant Colfax, county health director. “By bringing care to campus, we are removing barriers and giving students an easy way to focus on their health.”
CCH already provides healthcare at many Contra Costa high schools through mobile clinics. Expanding services to the community colleges helps keep young adults safe and healthy, including some who may have visited county mobile clinics in high school.
“We are proud to partner with CCH to offer our students free, convenient health care services," 4CD Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said. "We encourage our students to prioritize their physical and mental health, and this is just one example of how our colleges empower students to care for their well-being.”
Students younger than 21 can access reproductive care services at CCH mobile clinics regardless of their insurance status. Students younger than 21 who have Medi-Cal, Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP) or are uninsured can also receive physical exams through the campus clinics.
Students 21 and older who have Medi-Cal, CCHP or are uninsured can access the same services.
Staff at the mobile clinics include a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, a health education specialist and a mobile clinic operator.
The clinics will operate weekly on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on the second Wednesday of each month, at Contra Costa College in San Pablo and Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill.
Los Medanos College in Pittsburg will host clinics every Monday from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.