Teen Clinic with Lisa Stordahl
Our Program on August 14th was a presentation about the West Suburban Teen Clinic, made by Lisa Stordahl.
The West Suburban Teen Clinic was founded in 1972, and our own Glenn Froberg was on the board of directors. They currently have a staff of 100 volunteers, and they are the only clinic that serves a clientele in an area of 1200 square miles. They specialize in providing health care to youth from 12 to 23 years of age. They now have a branch in Hopkins which was recently opened.
When they first opened, the public was misinformed as to their purpose. The rumors were that it was an abortion clinic, and that their purpose was greatly misunderstood. Now, after 40 years of operation, their mission is understood and accepted by most people.
The clinic operates on a sliding scale fee basis, and no young person is turned away. They provide basic health care, usually to uninsured kids, and provide tests and treatment for illness. They do counseling for youth, and for family issues. They have an education program that reaches kids in all of the area high schools and talks about reproductive and social issues. They also provide reproductive health care to youth.
The reproductive care is the part that was controversial. Their intent was to provide information to kids about the process, and offer guidance and support if a girl was pregnant. Help was provided for new teenage parents to help them cope with the responsibilities of raising a family.
They are planning to celebrate their 40th anniversary with a gala on Friday, September 28th. The party to be held in the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park will feature the band that played at Rupert’s (remember Rupert’s?), and it appears that they will be announcing a new name for their clinic at that affair. The name they have used doesn’t fully fit their current mission.
Phone contact: Lisa Stordahl 952-474-3251 E-mail: www.wstcmn.org
No Meeting Next Week on August 28th because of the Golf-Auction Fundraiser !