Bill Text: IL HR0369 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Congratulates the staff, board of directors, and volunteers of Links North Shore Youth Health Service on the occasion of the organization's 40th anniversary.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-05-21 - Resolution Adopted [HR0369 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR0369-Introduced.html

---

HR0369 LRB098 12039 GRL 45994 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate the staff, board of
directors, and volunteers of Links North Shore Youth Health
Service on the occasion of the organization's 40th anniversary;
and
WHEREAS, In the wake of the cultural changes of the late
1960s, local social service agencies were seeing more teens
dealing with issues related to sexuality, and there were few
resources available; responding to these emerging community
needs, a group of community leaders including clergy,
physicians, and local professionals decided to act; and
WHEREAS, Links - North Shore Youth Health Service opened
its doors on May 7, 1973 as a reproductive health care clinic
in the basement of Northfield's Josselyn Center; it moved into
its current space in Northfield in 1986; and
WHEREAS, While Links was initially offered to young women
in high school, it has expanded over the years; in 1997, a
separate clinic for young men was opened, which provides
testing and treatment for the most common sexually transmitted
infections; Links now provides services for teens and young
adults up to age 25; between 500 and 600 clients a year go to

HR0369 - 2 - LRB098 12039 GRL 45994 r
Links for services ranging from reproductive health care to
counseling; and
WHEREAS, Links' Community Education program began in 1974
with "Links on Wheels", a program where trained volunteers gave
educational presentations about birth control and "venereal
disease" to young people through schools and community groups;
today, the Community Education Program offers 15 different
programs to grades 5-12, covering responsible decision-making,
healthy relationships, stress management, and practical issues
such as the prevention of substance abuse, acquaintance rape,
sexually transmitted infections, and unplanned pregnancy; and
WHEREAS, The Pride Youth Program, which provides support
and education for teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
or transgender (LGBT), was founded in 1993 after a local high
school student pointed out that there were no community
services available to address the needs of this population; the
Pride Youth Program now reaches over 200 LGBT youth a year,
with weekly meetings in Northfield, Palatine, Evanston, and
Gurnee; and
WHEREAS, From its tenuous beginnings, Links has
transformed into a highly regarded community resource, where
its 3 programs serve nearly 12,000 teens and young adults each
year; therefore, be it

HR0369 - 3 - LRB098 12039 GRL 45994 r
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate the staff, board of directors, and volunteers
of Links on the occasion of the organization's 40th anniversary
and wish them continued success and happiness in the future;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Links as a symbol of our esteem and respect.