(Above) Women’s Care Clinic Lead Client Advocate Aleta Randle and Advocate and Advisor Annie Dykstra.
Late Friday afternoon, the Women’s Care Clinic in Danville marked 30 years of service to the community with an open house at their 1509 North Bowman location. As advisor and advocate Annie Dykstra explained to Laura Williams on 1490 WDAN’s Community Connection program; the Women’s Care Clinic actually began in a garage, moved to a location on Williams, and now they have their location on North Bowman, at the other end of the new Goodwill building.
Any woman or young lady who is pregnant can participate in the program up until their child is a year old. And yes, they have a Dad’s Program too. It’s a matter of giving those who are expecting guidance, education, and most importantly, a community and family. A big part of it, Dykstra says, is their Bridges Program.
AUDIO: And we have breastfeeding, yoga, anything and everything. We’ve had the U of I in here, the Extension, helping them learn to cook healthy meals. But that Bridges Program, they meet once a month, they get that “community.” That is huge. Having a village around you as a young mom, or a mom at all, is huge need in this community. We need our moms to rally together.
Ashley Fossel has benefitted from the Women’s Care Clinic, and now has a little girl.
AUDIO: The Women’s Care Clinic; they’re like so gentle and patient. I had my daughter after being in the Bridges Program. The Bridges Program, they have yoga classes; breastfeeding classes. I had my daughter, and I’m still in the Bridges Program. She’s nine months now. I would recommend the Women’s Clinic to anybody.
The Women’s Care Clinic provides their services free of charge and are assisted by numerous volunteers. If you’d like to join the team or learn more about their services, call 217-431-0987.
