When an intrepid group of physicians and nurses joined together in 1968 to start a free clinic for homeless and runaway youth, they had no idea their plan would one day become a multi-million dollar agency. Outside In has made tremendous strides in its journey to reach out to marginalized and disenfranchised youth, and we have become so much more than we ever imagined.

So what is Outside In today? We are a social service agency that provides a holistic level of intervention and programming for homeless and at-risk youth. We are a medical clinic that incorporates teaching, care provision and advocacy. We are an outreach program that creates bridges to serve the needs of the hardest to reach homeless populations. We are a burgeoning voice for the nameless and voiceless, disenfranchised homeless. We are a point of entry for people of all diversity to achieve their goals and life aspirations. We are the place people go when they have nowhere else to turn. The concept of taking medical services directly to patients is not a new idea.

The concept of using this model to decrease the financial burden on emergency departments is a very novel idea. Outside In, working in collaboration with community partner agencies, has built a program of "street" clinics that act as a gateway to more comprehensive services. This gateway model enables patients to interact with the healthcare system before the needs that drive a visit to the emergency room ever arises.

As the Outreach Program has grown, so has the sophistication with which we deliver services. We utilize a state-of-the-art mobile medical vehicle and we attend to patients in a variety of locations. The Outside In mobile medical outreach program has become a model to which other clinics are looking for guidance and direction. This growth is equally witnessed in the expansion of our home clinic services. The home clinic, brick and mortar facility, has endured an equally impressive explosion in scope. In the last 18 months, we have received federal funds enabling our dedicated clinic team to expand hours of operation and available services.

This funding will allow us to provide an additional 7,000 visits per year. Outside In has grown to become a major player in the health care community. Our growth has been a responsible and carefully crafted approach to the needs of the patients and clients we serve. We are proud to be a part of the continuum of services in the lives of our community’s most destitute people. We are excited by the life-changing stories we see everyday. We are committed to making a difference.

We are thankful for your help.

Dr. Wayne Centrone, ND, MPH is Outside In’s Outreach Medical Director. He can be reached at wcentrone@outsidein.org.