Youth Acupuncture Wellness Program
The
University of California, Berkeley is leading the way in giving back to its community through acupuncture. Undergraduates at the prestigious post secondary institution are serving homeless young people through the
Youth Acupuncture Wellness Program.
This innovative program, working with a $15,000 grant, is providing acupuncture treatments and addiction education, as well as meals and medical referral services to the homeless youth population in the area free of charge.
Hope McDonald is the local acupuncturist and philanthropist leading the program, whose background hails from one of San Francisco’s well-known homeless clinics.
UC Berkley’s Youth Acupuncture Wellness Program is a component of the student organization, The Suitcase Clinic, that makes other services available to the homeless community including those of the legal and social variety.
Acupuncture has proven benefits in treating addiction and mental illness since the early 1970’s.