50 Years of Clarity & Care

Pregnancy and reproductive health exist within one of the most polarized conversations in our country. But when someone walks into Claris, we don’t see a political issue standing in front of us.

Our name has always reflected something we believe people deserve: clarity. Clarity means being transparent about who we are and the care we provide.

Claris Health is a nonprofit healthcare provider, licensed by the State of California as a Primary Care Clinic and accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. Our medical care is provided by licensed clinicians and overseen by our Medical Director, an OB/GYN. Services include pregnancy testing and ultrasound imaging, prenatal and well-woman care, STD/STI testing and treatment, mental health services, parenting programs, and education.

We do not perform abortions at Claris Health.

We do, however, believe that someone facing a pregnancy decision deserves the opportunity to ask questions, receive accurate information, explore their pregnancy options, and understand what those options mean for their individual circumstances.

Being clear about what we do and what we do not do matters to us, as does creating a place where people can ask difficult questions without fear of judgment.

The Claris Way is patient-led, because we begin by listening rather than assuming we know what someone needs. Fully informed, because people deserve accurate information and the opportunity to understand their options. Family-centered, because the health and well-being of individuals affect—and are affected by—the people around them. And integrated, because a pregnancy or sexual-health decision rarely exists in isolation.

Health is connected to relationships, mental health, family, housing, finances, and hopes for the future. Our goal has never been to provide a single service and send someone on their way. Caring for the whole person can mean an appointment, counseling, helping a parent find resources, or simply a safe place to talk through something difficult. And sometimes it means still showing up months or even years after that first appointment.

When I think about Claris’ 50-year history, I don’t primarily think about buildings, programs, statistics, or milestones.

I think about people.

I think about the woman who arrived frightened and left feeling that she could finally breathe. The young person who needed healthcare but was afraid of being judged. The family that came back months later because they remembered how they had been treated the first time.

I think about the physicians, nurses, counselors, educators, staff members, volunteers, donors, and community partners who believed that caring for someone well can change the trajectory of a life.

Those stories have shaped Claris for five decades. They have taught us that people rarely need someone shouting at them from one side of an issue or the other. They need people willing to come alongside them.