The Links Team: Reaching Out, Making a Difference
By: Melanie Flynn
In 1973, Links' adolescent medical clinic opened it's doors in Northfield. With a staff of two physicians and twenty volunteers, the Links team addressed an area wide Youth Needs Assessment for confidential, low cost birth control, STD testing and counseling services. Over the past 36 years, our volunteer pool has morphed into a team of 80 who work closely with our 11 member professional staff.
Links' clinic volunteers are highly trained Support Workers who meet with young clients one on one to understand their relationships with family and friends, how they are doing in school and the quality of their decision making skills. A health history is taken before a client is introduced to a Links physician, as well as an explanation of Links' services and an opportunity to ask questions. Whether a Links client needs five minutes or an hour with a Support Worker, the time is always made available. These tireless volunteers are North Shore moms, who choose to complete our extensive training sessions and offer non-judgmental support, a listening ear and the great gift of time. Our clients come not just from our neighborhood, but from as far away as Rockford, Naperville and Indiana. They are not "bad" kids nor are they "promiscuous." Links' clients are bright, responsible young people who come to us for accurate information, preventive care and treatment. Dedicated ob/gyns in private practice and on staff at Prentice, Evanston, Glenbrook and Highland Park Hospitals volunteer countless hours to ensure professional, compassionate care. Links' Social Workers and RN's, also area moms, are always available to answer questions and to provide counsel in their respective fields.
It has been nine years since I became a member of the Links team. What drew me here was the honesty, curiosity and energy of the young people I see each day as a Links Health Educator in area schools and as a Support Worker in our clinic: what inspires me is the talent and commitment of our staff to every client Links serves.
My five children range in age from 16 to 21. I am asked the same two questions constantly: "Do your kids use Links' clinic?" and "Why would kids use Links' services if they have private physicians and are insured by their parents?" If any of my kids ever used the clinic, they'd be in great hands, but I wouldn't know unless they told me as our services are confidential in accordance with federal law. As to the question of Links' clinic versus private care, here are my thoughts.
Links' mission is to prevent risky/dangerous adolescent behaviors through education. The premise here is that by providing our kids with accurate information in our school programs as well as in the clinic, we help them make informed and therefore, (hopefully), healthy decisions. Because Links provides routine gynecological/urological care and testing, procedures out of that realm must be referred. Since we only see adolescents, (young people up to the age of 25), Links is well equipped with both professional and volunteer staff to address the myriad of fears, questions and misinformation that kids are often reticent to broach with their own doctors due to time constraints in busy private practices. We can spend an hour or more talking about everything from homework, to boyfriends to the perils of alcohol/drug use before even getting to questions about sexual health! And although the underpinning of our sex ed presentation promotes teen abstinence, the reality is that we don't know when kids will choose to become sexually active, if they'll choose to experiment with substances, if they'll experience an abusive relationship or if they'll find themselves needing a safe place to talk through any issues in a confidential environment with a caring professional.
As Thanksgiving approaches and I think about the many gifts for which I'm grateful, the Links team is high on my list. As a parent, I'm honored to work with a group that is truly dedicated to the health, education and safety of our young people. In my own experience, I've found that it really does "take a village" to raise our kids. How lucky we are as a community to have this resource and the many moms who reach out through their work at Links to offer compassionate, thoughtful care. Thanks to you all for sharing your talents, time, expertise and especially your hearts. Happy Thanksgiving!
For more information about Links services/volunteer opportunities, email Melanie at outreach@linksyouth.org.
