Women's Health & Counseling Center (WHCC) has been an integral community resource for women and teens since 1973. WHCC works to reduce the financial, ethnic, language or other barriers that prevent patients from obtaining the services they need.  WHCC's goal is to provide compassionate and high-quality services. These include primary, preventive and reproductive health care, crisis care, counseling, and support programs, as well as education and outreach. We promote healthier communities by educating women and teens to make informed health care decisions.

Health Services: WHCC provides confidential, comprehensive health services for women and teens.  WHCC collaborates with other local non-profit organizations and health agencies in order to provide our clients with the best possible care.

Costs for services are based on a “sliding fee scale” - clients pay according to income.  Medicare and most Medicaid plans are accepted, and reimbursement receipts are provided to clients with health insurance.  Clients are welcomed regardless of their ability to pay for services rendered.

• Primary Care Services
  WHCC is a full service health center offering physical exams for school or work, care for minor ailments (colds, flu, stomach aches), minor injuries, chronic conditions (allergies, asthma, depression, anxiety, back/joint pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.), onsite EKGs, and a fully functioning laboratory (pregnancy, urinalysis, microscope based testing, blood work, HIV).

• Preventative Care Services
  Routine wellness exams and screenings (cholesterol, blood sugar, skin biopsies, etc.) are encouraged and offered to our clients in order to promote healthy living and reduce the risk of future illnesses.  Routine adult vaccinations including flu, pneumonia, tetanus, and Hepatitis B are available.

• Reproductive Health Care Services
  WHCC provides extensive family planning services that include annual gynecological exams, pregnancy testing and counseling, an extensive choice of birth control methods, and emergency contraception. We also provide onsite diagnostic services.

• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment
  Sexually transmitted infection (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HPV, etc.) testing and treatment is available to both women and men. Free condoms are offered to teens.

• HIV Testing and Counseling
  WHCC staff will answer all of your questions about HIV. Rapid HIV testing is provided, with results available in 20 minutes. If your test results are positive, we counsel, refer and guide you to supportive assistance.  Testing and results are confidential.

• Prescription Assistance Program
  Thanks to local drug companies, our clients may receive their prescription medications through our health center at no or minimal cost.

• Cancer Education and Early Detection Program (CEED)
  Women and men who are uninsured and meet financial eligibility can obtain free breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancer screenings at WHCC.

• Information and Referrals
  If we don't offer a health service you may need, we'll provide you with a referral to another agency that can help.

Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS): WHCC is the only provider of sexual assault support services in Somerset County.

Sexual Assault 24-Hour Hotline: 908-526-7444

Help is available for survivors, family and friends...

• 24-hour hotline and crisis counseling
• Hospital and police accompaniment
• Empowerment and support to make decisions
• Individual and group counseling for victims, partners, and families

The SASS program offers a psycho-educational group on Thursday evenings from 6:30pm – 8pm. Please call SASS Program Director, Irene Lebbad at 908.526.2335 x130 for more information.

Education and Outreach: WHCC's staff visits schools, local organizations, and community groups to provide medical and health-related educational programs. Teen-specific programs include:

• Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (APPI)/ Teens Achieving Goals (TAG)
  WHCC works one-on-one with teens to help reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy using medical, social and educational resources.

• Linkages School-based Health Services
  Based at the Somerset County Vo-Tech School, WHCC staff provides on-site health education and counseling services to students.

• Somerset Teen Education in Pregnancy Program (STEP)
  This program helps young moms-to-be understand what it takes to have a healthy baby and to be a responsible new parent.  Participants learn how to focus on attaining their educational and career goals with the hopes of avoiding poverty – a common side-effect of early parenthood.  This program emphasizes the prevention of an additional unplanned pregnancy coming on the heels of the first, and helps to prepare these new teen parents for the realistic challenges they face.

To purchase tickets for any of these events and raffles or for more info, please contact Michelle at 908-526-2335 ext. 134 or send her an email.

◊ 10^th Annual Women’s Health Benefit, “Imagine, Believe, Help Us Achieve!” Don’t miss this year’s celebration on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at the Bridgewater Marriott. Sponsorships, ad journal opportunities, and tickets are available by calling our Development Department at 908-526-2335 ext. 134 or send us an email.

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◊ English-speaking 12 week psycho-educational support group for adult survivors of sexual assault begins Sept 14, 2010. Call 908-526-2335 x130 for more info.

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◊ 10 week training for volunteer rape care advocates to join Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) begins Sept 16, 2010.  Call 908-526-2335 x130 for more info.