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Community Corner

Links Honored for Empowering Young Women

On October 3, the YWCA Evanston/North Shore hosted their 5th annual YWomen Leadership Awards Benefit, attended by over 400 people.  The YWomen Leadership Awards recognize, support and promote women’s leadership and the impact women have in our community. Each year, three individuals and one organization are recognized for their commitment to women’s empowerment, racial justice, and social change.

Links – North Shore Youth Health Service was selected as the organizational honoree this year for its work in women’s health.  The Northfield-based non-profit serves the north and northwest suburbs and reached 11,974 young people last year through its three programs:  health education in the schools for grades 5-12; support services for high school students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender; and reproductive health care for teens and young adults up to age 25.

“All of us at Links are so proud to have been selected for this incredible honor,” said Amy Skalinder, Executive Director. “It is just tremendous to be recognized for the work we have been doing to empower young women for almost 40 years.”

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Links was particularly recognized for its work in providing reproductive health care for teens and young adults.  “Young women still face many barriers in accessing basic, preventive gynecological care and birth control,” Skalinder commented.  “They are concerned about confidentiality and the cost of health care, and because of those concerns, many choose to go without care – putting them at greater risk for an unplanned pregnancy or contracting a sexually transmitted infection.  Links provides a safe alternative, where they can get the information and medical care they need.”

Links provides young women with confidential and affordable reproductive health care, in an environment that is friendly and non-judgmental.  Trained volunteers take time to talk one-on-one with each client at the beginning of each clinic visit.  While they discuss the client’s medical history and provide information about birth control and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, they also talk with the client about how things are going in general – socially, with family, at school – so that referrals for additional support services can be made if needed.

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Links’ clients also have access to top-notch medical care.  The medical professionals at Links are all volunteers – OB/GYN physicians and certified nurse-midwives who are actively practicing in the community but take one night a month to see clients at Links.  Volunteer Medical Director Loren Hutter, MD is a Wilmette resident who has been volunteering at Links for over 25 years.

Links’ clinic for young women is offered Monday and Thursday evenings, and one Saturday morning a month.  Links also offers a clinic for young men (who are seen by volunteer urologists) on the first and third Tuesday of the month.

The three individuals honored at the event were Alice Tregay, Kaethe Morris Hoffer, and Elizabeth Stanton. 

One of the most anticipated parts of the YWomen Leadership Awards each year is the film made by YWCA Board Member (and accomplished film maker) Susan Hope Engel. This year's film, which tells the story of each honoree, can be viewed at www.ywca.org/2012ywomen.

Links – North Shore Health Service empowers young people to make informed, responsible decisions about their health, well-being, and sexuality.  For more information, visit www.linksyouth.org or call 847.441.6191.

Photo credit: Genie Lemieux, Evanston Photographic Studios

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