Preservation of Human Dignity (PHD)

By Laurie Stock, Roosevelt University student

For the last 40 years, an organization dedicated to the Preservation of Human Dignity (PHD) has provided pregnancy help and education to women in northwest suburban communities. Contrary to what some people might think, the "P" in PHD does not stand for Palatine. PHD stands for Preservation of Human Dignity. Although most of PHD’s clients are from the Palatine, Schaumburg, Wheeling, Elk Grove, and Barrington townships, the organization’s services assist women from all areas and demographics who are struggling with pregnancy and or parenting young children.

PHD ‘s involvement with domestic violence problems often is primarily that of referrals. Kim Stobbe, clinical director of PHD, is a member of the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence and previously worked for Safe from the Start, a non-for-profit agency dealing with domestic violence. Although PHD does not directly provide domestic violence programs or services, many of its clients are victims of domestic violence. The organization’s trained counselors are well versed in recognizing signs of domestic abuse and in making the appropriate referrals to agencies and shelters that they work closely with, such as WINGS in Palatine. Many women who come to PHD for assistance often won’t admit or don’t recognize that they are victims of domestic violence. Consequently, it often takes numerous counseling sessions before this sensitive issue can be addressed.

In addition to offering pregnancy related programs and services, PHD also provides educational prevention outreach programs to students and parents in the communities. These focus on healthy sexuality and healthy relationships. The "Friendship Project" is a program geared toward children grades 3rd through 6th. It focuses on character education, being a good friend, and ultimately anti-bullying. "Now We’re Talking" is a workshop for Junior High School parents aimed at helping them communicate more effectively with their teens on sensitive subjects such as dating and sexuality. "Independence Highway" includes a four session- abstinence related program on drugs and sex education taught to high school sophomores in health classes. To date 6,600 students have participated in this program. And Common Sense Parenting is an educational program for parents of toddlers and preschoolers offered as a seven-week program to in- house clients and offered as a seminar on a quarterly basis in the community.

For those who’d like to make a difference through PHD, there are many ways. Volunteers can make a monthly donation to PHD’s Spirit of Life Program; host a baby bottle drive or a baby shower; donate items to the resale store; sponsor a fundraising event; or donate time. Volunteers work on fundraising events; in the resale store, maternity or baby closets; on special projects; or could work directly with PHD clients after attending a mandatory 12- week training program & assessment.

Roosevelt University Students are learning about domestic violence in their Writing Social Justice course.