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Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents (spring 2000) |
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Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents (spring 2000) |
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TOPIC:
Women's Resource Center: Serving Women and Families |
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by
richard
cox Although it helps hundreds of local low-income women obtain affordable health services every year, the Women's Resource Center is not a clinic, nor does it serve women exclusively. In fact, one of the most striking things about the Women's Resource Center is the sheer variety of services—medical and non-medical—it offers under one roof. |
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| "We're a one-stop place for women and their families to address diverse needs," says Heather Gill, assistant director of the Women's Resource Center. And so it's been for more than two decades. |
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The Women's Resource Center, which celebrated its 25th anniversary
in March 2000, offers women and their families
everything from career counseling and childcare referrals to access to low-cost dental and
prescription services. It does this through two offices, one in Fort Collins at the United
Way building, 424 Pine St., and the other in Loveland. For families seeking affordable childcare options, the center operates a Child Care Resource and Referral Program, with a computerized database of all licensed providers in the county. Staff interview parents to determine their needs and then supply a list of appropriate childcare providers. Career Quest is the center's employment and career counseling service. Available on a sliding-fee scale, the service helps prospective job applicants with everything from writing resumes and honing their interview skills to dressing for success. There's even a job-seekers support group and a "career closet" of clothes clients can wear for work or interviews. Low-income families in crisis can turn to the center for help finding available local resources. "We offer emotional support and referrals, but if a family has exhausted all of their financial resources, we can also help with that," Gill says. Many community members know the Women's Resource Center best for the various low-cost health services it has coordinated for men and women since 1986. It connects low-income patients with dentists offering discounted services and also offers regular workshops on dental prevention. For a cost of $1, workshop participants leave with a goody bag, a coupon for a free teeth cleaning and tips for maintaining oral health. The center also provides limited prescription assistance to low-income seniors age 60 and older, who pay a total of $2 per prescription. Recently, the Women's Resource Center launched two healthcare programs aimed primarily at local Hispanic residents. The center is sending trained volunteers into the community to stress the importance of HIV prevention and regular breast and cervical cancer screening for women. It also offers limited financial assistance for follow-up cancer tests and soon expects to add an anonymous HIV testing service. |
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