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A nonprofit clinic that was started to allow immigrants to give back to their adopted community marked a milestone Friday.
Mayflower Clinic held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at its new location, 209 E. William, Suite 104.
Open since 2010, the health care clinic uses mostly volunteer providers and moved to its new location to expand mental health services.
The clinic’s physicians are originally from several countries, including India, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, Syria and Lebanon.
“This started because of first generation immigrants who wanted to give back to this country,” said Abdul Arif, founding board member and bankruptcy lawyer. “This is our way to say ‘Thank you, U.S.A.’ ”
Originally, Mayflower Clinic was located at 3305 E. Douglas in space donated by physician Eustaquio Abay.
The nonprofit clinic began accepting patients at its new location on Jan. 12.
“I particularly love the idea that it’s so many first generation Americans here that are giving back to others,” said Gov. Sam Brownback, who attended the event.
“They have enriched our country so much and now they’re giving freely of their professional services and abilities, and I just think that’s a beautiful American success story.”
Robert Hartmann, psychotherapist and director of mental health, said the clinic hopes to work with the courts for mental health assessments and also in other areas, such as domestic violence, parenting classes and anger management.
He said the clinic also hopes to expand to include services in Spanish.
In an interview following the event, Brownback said he is still looking at the possibility of expanding Medicaid in Kansas.
“I’m wanting to see what the feds are willing to negotiate on this and see what the package is and if they’d be willing to work with us on it, so I haven’t made a decision yet,” he said.
Brownback said that under KanCare, the state’s new privatized Medicaid program, services have been expanded to those who already qualify, including the area of preventative dental care.
Clinic hours
Mayflower Clinic is open Saturdays and the first Sunday of each month from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only for medical services.
The clinic is open weekdays by appointment only for mental health services.
Mayflower Clinic does not accept insurance, and patients are asked to give a donation for services if they receive medical care.
The clinic currently uses a sliding fee scale for patients who just use the mental health services, Hartmann said.
For more information, call 316-558-3991 or go to www.mayflowerclinic.com.
