People's Organization of Community Acupuncture Information

Our mission is to work cooperatively to increase accessibility to and availability of affordable group acupuncture treatments. POCA, as a multi-stakeholder co-op, is designed to build a long-term, stable economic relationship based on fair treatment for everybody. Multi-stakeholder cooperatives recognize that producers and consumers are mutually dependent on one another, and that the health of the relationship between these groups is connected to the health of the larger community and economy. Our vision: To make community acupuncture as widely available as possible. To establish affordable acupuncture training and continuing education programs. To establish best practices for the operation of sustainable community acupuncture clinics. To create job stability for community acupuncture employees, staff, and clinic owners. To build healthy relationships and foster collaboration among our practitioners, staff, patients, and communities. To establish micro-lending programs, scholarship funds, insurance/benefits programs, and further financial support to POCA members. To ease entry into the practice of acupuncture and work with legislators to ensure safety and reasonable regulation. To develop research that is useful to POCA clinics, patients, and practitioners. To build alliances with organizations that build community and foster sustainable economies. To sustain POCA as a robust, flourishing cooperative.