Wildflower Healthcare at 268 Herbert St. in West St. Augustine, provides free, high-quality dental and medical care to underserved, uninsured adult residents in St. Johns County and neighboring communities.
Since 1995, volunteer health professionals and paid staff have provided compassionate care and health education through clinics and community outreach programs.
The Wildflower Clinic serves uninsured adults 18 years old and older who have an annual income below 200% of the federal poverty level, which is $55,500 in 2022 for a family of four.
The target patient population includes small business owners, restaurant workers, many new residents of St. Johns County and the homeless population, among others. Community partners, volunteers, individual donors and philanthropic foundations have generously supported the nonprofit with new and existing programs and services.
Recently, the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce welcomed Wildflower Healthcare as a new member and recognized the nonprofit’s history with a ribbon cutting and open house. Event participants also celebrated a building upgrade and mural painting donated by a 10th grade student, Claire Walczak, from the Memorial Presbyterian Church youth group, along with new flooring made possible by Anastasia Baptist Church.
The event was attended by local businesses, nonprofit partners, volunteers, dignitaries, staff and community members.
Wildflower Healthcare provides much needed dental exams, x-rays, extractions, fillings, dentures, routine cleaning and dental health education
Medical services include primary care with lab work and x-rays, urgent care, specialty clinics in cardio, endocrinology, orthopedics, hematology, gastroenterology, and vision screenings. Women’s wellness health and prescription assistance is also provided.
Outreach in the community is in conjunction with the Flagler Health+ Bus Mobile Clinic offering medical services at St. Francis House, Hastings Branch of the St. Johns County Public Library System, Family Worship Center and also Dining with Dignity with once a month visits.
Additionally, Ascension St. Johns partners with the nonprofit and its Dental Bus to offer services in the Hastings area once a month.
Wildflower offers outreach services to Home Again St. Johns, St. Francis House, Epic Cure, Council on Aging at Hastings Senior Center and other locations offering health care screenings and education, and pop-up flu vaccine clinics throughout St. Johns County.
According to Michelle P. Colee, Wildflower Healthcare’s executive director, patients can also receive newly expanded social services expertise at the facility with expansion of dental and medical care, plus in house diabetic education and additional staff professionals recently hired in outreach, dental and medical, and volunteer physicians in a myriad of specialties. The organization is continuing its ongoing services and programs six days a week from Monday through Saturday, and closed on Sunday.
“We are a small but mighty organization and extremely grateful for volunteers and donors who make our work possible,” said Colee. “New volunteers in all fields are always welcome, including dentists, physicians, physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners and registered nurses, plus other professionals such as photographers, marketing and media specialists,” she said. “Donors are needed to help us with contributions along with those who are looking for a worthwhile cause. This is an excellent way to help the community by ensuring good health for all. In particular, we want to reach government officials to tell them our story and how Wildflower Healthcare is well integrated among the overall structure of St. Johns County services. This is important to our financial growth as a charitable organization.”
As the only free dental and medical clinic in St. Johns County, Wildflower Healthcare has seen a 30% increase in services provided this year with a mission to ensure access to high-quality, compassionate care for uninsured adult residents in St. Johns County. The nonprofit is recognized as a significant contributor to the health and wellbeing of people while building and sustaining full diversity and acceptance through the nonprofit’s culture, values, norms and behaviors.
In 1995, Good Samaritan Healthcare (GSHC) began providing free dental and medical services to underserved, uninsured residents through medical clinics held at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church and dental clinics held at St. Johns County Health Department. In conjunction with New Mt. Moriah Christian Ministry in West Augustine and the St. Johns County Health Department, GSHC created the Wildflower Project in 2007.
In response to the community’s need for adult dental care, GSHC partnered with Anastasia Baptist Church and the Emergency Services Homeless Coalition to hold a five-day, mobile dental clinic for underserved, uninsured residents in 2007.
The GSHC Board of Directors initiated a capital campaign to raise funds to build a permanent facility for dental and medical services. New Mt. Moriah Christian Ministry donated land on Herbert Street for the Wildflower Clinic, which opened debt-free and began patient care in January 2010. The GSHC board rebranded the Wildflower Clinic as Wildflower Healthcare to reflect the scope of services offered beyond a single clinic location and to highlight our greater community impact.
In 2021, patients served at Wildflower Healthcare and partner locations included 1,592 medical patients, 1,493 dental patients with 28 patients receiving full dentures, 77 specialty referrals, 155 flu shots, 799 Covid vaccines, and 2,693 households receiving health care information through food banks. Medications distributed were valued at close to $766,000.
Dr. Shakira Husain, MD serves as the nonprofit’s president and medical director, and Dr. Stephanie Kinsey, DDS, serves as dental director.
For more information, call Michelle P. Colee at 904-829-1962, ext. 105, email director@wildflowerhealthcare.org. The website is wildflowerhealthcare.org.
