About SYTHC

The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic

The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic is located on the reservation of the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians, a federally recognized tribe. The reservation is located in central Santa Barbara County in the Santa Ynez Valley, separated from the coast by coastal mountains. The local area is primarily rural with vegetable and flower fields, cattle and horse ranches, vineyards and wineries. We are 15 minutes from Solvang, which is a major tourist attraction, with many restaurants, shops and hotels. The Tribe has recently opened its newly built Casino and Resort in Santa Ynez, which includes a full-service hotel, health spa, several restaurants and entertainment showroom.

Established in 1977, the Clinic provides culturally appropriate services to Native Americans and non-native Americans residing primarily in Santa Barbara County. Our local area includes the towns of Santa Ynez, Buellton, Los Olivos and Solvang. We also see patients from other cities in Santa Barbara County, including Santa Maria, Lompoc and Santa Barbara, and we have some patients from the adjoining counties of San Luis Obispo and Ventura.

The clinic offers medical and dental care and community health education activities designed to enhance health awareness and practices in the Native American Community. Home visits to tribal residents needing services, from newborns to elders, are available. Referrals to outside medical and non-medical services are provided. The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic has achieved mature contractor status with the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Clinic is a certified FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center) Medi-Cal/Medicare facility. We are the only health care facility offering medical, dental, and community health services to the low income population of rural Santa Barbara County.

Our patients range in age from newborn infants to children (0-12 years) 18%, teenagers (13-19) 11%, young adults (20-44) 40%, adults (45-64) 23% and older patients (65 and over) 8%. We offer comprehensive services to the indigent, uninsured, and underinsured. All income levels are accepted, from self-pay and patients with insurance, to those covered by Medi-Cal or Medicare, and those eligible for our sliding fee scale, based on their income.