Chicory, not all public or sliding fee clinics are bad. I have had both, some very good ones and some I could wring their neck.
I switched to private here because this state will not prescribe benzos and I need them. OK, where i had lived for 18 months before did not have that restriction. Also they would not give me the dosage I need of my mood stabilizer.
The public clinic here is excellent with knowing and providing info about all kinds of other resources out there. It's been really helpful.