Coalition provides hospital-based services for pregnant teens

After identifying the need to provide programs offering alternatives to abortion in the Buffalo, NY, diocese, the bishop, health care administrators, and social workers began in-service training sessions to inform the community about the need for services and for advertising existing services. The group found that the northern part of the diocese had no accessible services. In 1981, after weeks of meetings, respect life coordinators, hospital administrators, and social service agencies formed Women's Health Services (WHS), an emergency pregnancy hotline based at Kenmore (NY) Mercy Hospital. WHS is cosponsored by four local agencies, three diocesan and one private, who share administrative, managerial, and educational responsibilities. WHS offers free pregnancy testing, hotline counseling, prenatal clinic and residential care, and crisis intervention. The coalition agencies share equally in instructing the volunteer staff, who form the program's foundation. WHS serves as a role model for other dioceses, communities, and health facilities that seek ways to provide a needed health care service.