Leah Hebert on the West Suburban Teen Clinic
Posted by Steve Frazier
Our Program for December 14th featured Leah Hebert, the Executive Director of the West Suburban Teen Clinic in Excelsior. This organization is one of our designated charities, and we will give a sizable donation to them to sponsor their work. The current clinic is located in a converted home across the street from the Koehnen station on Second Street.
The West Suburban Teen Clinic was founded over 35 years ago, and this year it served 3,000 clients who made over 8,000 visits to the clinic. To operate the clinic, even with all of the volunteer help they receive, cost $1,354,261 in 2009. About half of the cost is covered by patient fees, and another 35% is covered by government and foundation grants. The main task of the director is to fund raise, and spread the word about the clinic and its work.
There are four focuses in the program. First is mental health counseling, one of the most needed service among today's teens. A recent needs assessment in the area underlined the need that teens have for this service. Second focus is medical care at the clinic. Third is an education program for young women age 13 to 23 who are pregnant and have no concept of what parents are supposed to do. And fourth, there is an education program where presentations are made at 75 schools in the area covering such topics as pregnancy prevention, parent/teen communications, and stress reduction among teenagers.
In an effort to reach more of their potential teen clients, the WSTC is opening a new branch in downtown Hopkins shortly after the start of 2011. (Story by Tad Shaw and photo and posting by Steve Frazier)
The West Suburban Teen Clinic was founded over 35 years ago, and this year it served 3,000 clients who made over 8,000 visits to the clinic. To operate the clinic, even with all of the volunteer help they receive, cost $1,354,261 in 2009. About half of the cost is covered by patient fees, and another 35% is covered by government and foundation grants. The main task of the director is to fund raise, and spread the word about the clinic and its work.
There are four focuses in the program. First is mental health counseling, one of the most needed service among today's teens. A recent needs assessment in the area underlined the need that teens have for this service. Second focus is medical care at the clinic. Third is an education program for young women age 13 to 23 who are pregnant and have no concept of what parents are supposed to do. And fourth, there is an education program where presentations are made at 75 schools in the area covering such topics as pregnancy prevention, parent/teen communications, and stress reduction among teenagers.
In an effort to reach more of their potential teen clients, the WSTC is opening a new branch in downtown Hopkins shortly after the start of 2011. (Story by Tad Shaw and photo and posting by Steve Frazier)