Penquis CAP given grant to help teens

BANGOR – Penquis Community Action Program recently received an $18,404 grant from the Penobscot Valley Health Association Fund of the Maine Community Foundation to increase teen access to reproductive health services in the Bangor area.

Penquis Health Services receives hundreds of requests for pregnancy tests, chlamydia tests and emergency contraceptives each year from teens, according to a press release from Cheri Snow, a registered nurse and deputy department director of Family Enrichment Services for Penquis CAP.

She said there are many barriers to teens getting the kind of information they need, including logistical such as transportation, scheduling and costs, and emotional such as feelings of fear and embarrassment.

Penquis Health Services plans to use the grant to offer monthly teen clinics, walk-in hours for teens, no-cost supplies and lab tests, transportation assistance and enhanced outreach.

“This grant from the Penobscot Valley Health Association Fund of the Maine Community Foundation will help area youth access the services they need to make healthy, informed decisions that will positively impact their future,” said Snow.

Penquis Health Services provides reproductive health care for all ages. Women’s services include physical exams, Pap smears, STD testing and treatment, breast exams, birth control methods, pregnancy tests, colposcopy procedures, menopausal services and other services related to women’s health.

Men’s services include STD testing and treatment, HIV testing and testicular exams for prostate health.

A statewide organization with offices in Ellsworth and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation works in partnership with donors and community groups to strengthen Maine.

For information, visit the foundation’s Web site at www.mainecf.org or call toll free 877-700-6800.