Latest news with #TheLinkandOptionCenter
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
South Holland health center pushes for mobile clinic to target maternal health disparities
With Black women more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy than white women, South Holland's The Link and Option Center is pushing for a mobile health clinic to provide culturally sensitive care for women where they're at. 'It's crucial that we, as a community, work closely with our government agencies to address the fact that a significant percentage of pregnancy related deaths in Illinois are considered potentially preventable,' said Twin Green, president and CEO of The Link and Option Center. 'This fact should ignite a sense of urgency and responsibility in all of us.' Variation in quality health care and chronic underlying conditions are among the reasons for racial disparities in maternal health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Illinois, an average of 88 women die per year during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Green called this a red flag that needs to be addressed by public officials. Green said at a news conference Monday that she founded The Link and Option Center in 1995 to educate and provide support to young adults, especially in regards to mental health care. She said mobile clinic is crucial to the health center's mission to uplift Black communities by encouraging positive health outcomes. On Chicago's South Side and in the south suburbs, transportation is a major barrier for women to receive the care needed for healthy pregnancies, which the mobile clinic would address, Green said. 'The mobile maternal care clinic is the option that Illinois must take to save lives and build healthier communities that will save our state billions of dollars in the future,' Green said. The mobile clinic has received support from state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, who said he is pushing for state funding. The Link and Option Center seeks about $700,000 to purchase and implement the clinic, which would provide prenatal and postnatal screenings, mental health referrals, crisis intervention, chronic illness management and teen pregnancy support. Akua Mason attended the news conference with her 4-month-old son, Noah. She said working with a doula who provided dedicated support throughout her pregnancy was game changing as a Black woman living in Matteson. 'She's a Black woman as well, so she was able to connect on that level,' Mason said. 'Those services are super important, because a lot of times moms don't have the language to communicate with providers or even know what's wrong.' Mason said she's hopeful about a mobile health center in the south suburbs, believing it would help many women who struggle with getting to appointments ahead of birth. 'They may not be able to get there because of transportation,' Mason said. 'So this would eliminate that barrier.' ostevens@
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
South Holland health center pushes for mobile clinic to target maternal health disparities
With Black women more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy than white women, South Holland's The Link and Option Center is pushing for a mobile health clinic to provide culturally sensitive care for women where they're at. 'It's crucial that we, as a community, work closely with our government agencies to address the fact that a significant percentage of pregnancy related deaths in Illinois are considered potentially preventable,' said Twin Green, president and CEO of The Link and Option Center. 'This fact should ignite a sense of urgency and responsibility in all of us.'Variation in quality health care and chronic underlying conditions are among the reasons for racial disparities in maternal health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Illinois, an average of 88 women die per year during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Green called this a red flag that needs to be addressed by public officials. Green said at a news conference Monday that she founded The Link and Option Center in 1995 to educate and provide support to young adults, especially in regards to mental health care. She said mobile clinic is crucial to the health center's mission to uplift Black communities by encouraging positive health outcomes. On Chicago's South Side and in the south suburbs, transportation is a major barrier for women to receive the care needed for healthy pregnancies, which the mobile clinic would address, Green said. 'The mobile maternal care clinic is the option that Illinois must take to save lives and build healthier communities that will save our state billions of dollars in the future,' Green said. The mobile clinic has received support from state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, who said he is pushing for state funding. The Link and Option Center seeks about $700,000 to purchase and implement the clinic, which would provide prenatal and postnatal screenings, mental health referrals, crisis intervention, chronic illness management and teen pregnancy support. Akua Mason attended the news conference with her 4-month-old son, Noah. She said working with a doula who provided dedicated support throughout her pregnancy was game changing as a Black woman living in Matteson. 'She's a Black woman as well, so she was able to connect on that level,' Mason said. 'Those services are super important, because a lot of times moms don't have the language to communicate with providers or even know what's wrong.' Mason said she's hopeful about a mobile health center in the south suburbs, believing it would help many women who struggle with getting to appointments ahead of birth. 'They may not be able to get there because of transportation,' Mason said. 'So this would eliminate that barrier.'
