Dignity. It’s an elusive yet vital aspect of life.
“Without dignity, identity is erased,” wrote author Laura Hillenbrand.
Sadly, it often seems impossible to maintain dignity as an unwed or poverty-stricken mother. As with many successful social programs in our community and beyond, the answers to helping maintain human dignity continue to come through the private sector.
The Society for Preservation of Human Dignity (PHD) formed 44 years ago with the vision of being a “compassionate community where dignity is preserved, hope is restored, and lives are empowered and protected — one woman, one child, one family at a time,” according to its website.
Originally in downtown Palatine, PHD has grown to service numerous northern suburbs, and it now operates in a beautiful, three-story Inverness building that was anonymously donated to PHD in 2010. This warm and welcoming environment supports PHD’s innumerable services and programs, such as professional and group counseling, case management, educational outreach, as well as a baby and maternity closet.
PHD’s counseling center helps about 600 clients a year. Seventy-four percent of these women and men are at the federal poverty level, while 50 percent are Hispanic, according to PHD.
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The center provides services to individuals, couples, family pregnancy and post-pregnancy counseling on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, grief and loss, parenting issues, crisis intervention, and free pregnancy tests.
Anyone with a child under the age of 3, anyone who has lost a baby and anyone who is expecting are welcome at PHD. No one is turned away because lack of funds, and homeless clients are serviced for free.
These programs are not simply handouts and bailouts. They are based on ingeniously interwoven relationships, built with incentives and rewards, for learning and growing into parenthood. .
Volunteer case managers take calls from potential clients, set goals and check on their progress. Clients earn weekly credit stamps through working on goals, attending monthly meetings, educational classes, taking notes on articles and searching for jobs.
Educational classes cover maternal nutrition, fetal alcohol syndrome, domestic violence, safe sleep, postpartum depression and shaken baby syndrome. Once clients earn three stamps, they may visit the baby closet and participate in managed “shopping” to receive diapers, baby and maternity clothes and other essentials.
For new, soon-to-be mothers, PHD offers a special layette program that clients can earn by attending six classes. Either one month before or after delivery, they receive a layette filled with six months of baby items.
PHD’s educational outreach has helped thousands of students make informed choices about healthy sexual behavior and relationships, while help improve communication between parents and adolescents. Their trained, volunteer presenters — often teachers and counselors — visit public, private, alternative schools and community organizations to educate attendees using a comprehensive, abstinence-based program.
Vanessa Quinn, PHD director of education outreach, said the outreach is a prevention service that seeks to empower attendees.
“It’s good to be in the position to see what children are talking about,” she said.
Even with the success, PHD is not resting on its laurels. New Executive Director Diane Christell has high hopes for expansion, including neonatal care for premature babies and finding new ways to help pregnant women who experience depression and anxiety.
A registered nurse and therapist, Christell has been involved with PHD as a volunteer or staff member for 22 years. She is thrilled PHD helps assess clients properly and change unhealthy behaviors, she said.
When the level of care changes, clients are gently referred to other agencies and hospitals.
“Getting the mother healthy gets the children healthy,” she said. “It affects everything.”
About 150 volunteers, as well as three interns, devote time to PHD annually, and the organization welcomes more. PHD is funded by individuals, events, grants and township funding.
New Director of Development David Wolf is using his background as attorney and businessman to help raise $1.5 million and secure PHD’s future.
Monetary donations and gently used baby and maternity items are always accepted at PHD. The group also hosts its first “Casino Night” fundraiser Oct. 14 at Medinah Country Club. Tickets also are $150 a person.
For information, call 847-359-4967 or visit www.sphd.org.
Kimberly Albrecht is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press. Reach her at [email protected].