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State Representative Bob Dettmer
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4124
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS COLUMN
POSITIVE ALTNERATIVES FOR EVERY LIFE
By Bob Dettmer
State Representative
District 52A
Many Minnesotans are on a daily struggle to make ends meet. Whether due to recent unemployment, a pending foreclosure or growing medical bills, many people are looking for help. Ideally, community organizations are able to provide support to individuals during times like these, but sometimes government has the ability to provide additional resources by partnering with these organizations.
One effort that I am proud to support is the Positive Alternatives program, which helps to provide support and resources to pregnant women. Positive Alternatives grants are given to life-affirming organizations to help women receive medical care, nutritional services, housing assistance, adoption services, education and employment assistance, child care assistance, and parenting education and support services.
Positive Alternatives grantees are encouraged to build community relationships in order to provide efficient and effective services to clients. Currently there are 31 Positive Alternatives grantees located throughout the state, and well over 12,000 women have been helped by the program since it started in July 2006.
We are lucky to have a Positive Alternatives grantee located in Forest Lake. Lakes Life Care Center provides a helping hand to many local pregnant women and women with small children. They offer pregnancy tests, lay counseling, and educational materials as well as infant, toddler and maternity items. Additionally, clients can earn points by participating in various parenting education programs, which can then be used to obtain baby and maternity items. Lakes Life Care Center also recently started offering limited ultrasound services for clients. All services are free of charge.
Organizations like Lakes Life Care Center offer women positive, life-affirming options when they are faced with an unexpected or difficult pregnancy. By offering practical support and resources, their clients are given real help to bring their pregnancy to term while improving their life in the process.
Positive Alternatives grantees across the state have saved many pregnant women from homelessness, abuse and chemical dependency. Grantees have also helped to ensure that women and their unborn babies receive much needed prenatal care and adequate nutrition.
Providing this kind of help to the citizens of Minnesota has the capability to save taxpayers millions of dollars in the future by preventing premature births and helping women and their families to be productive, taxpaying members of society.
During these difficult financial times, the need for Positive Alternatives funded programs is increasing dramatically. That’s why I have signed on as a co-sponsor to increase the funding for this vital program.
Positive Alternatives grantees, like Lakes Life Care Center, empower pregnant women and give them hope for their future and their families’ future. I hope that you join me in supporting Positive Alternatives and Lakes Life Care Center. If you or someone you know needs the caring resources offered by Lakes Life Care Center, please contact them at 651-464-4340.
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