OneWorld Community Health Centers opens west Omaha location

OMAHA, NE | by Staff Reports | July 10, 2019

Original article can be found at: https://www.ketv.com

With the snip of a pair of scissors, OneWorld Community Health Centers opened its newest location Tuesday, near 132nd and Center streets. The center will be the organization’s second clinic specializing in health care for teens and young adults. One of its major services will be providing a safe place for young people to learn about sexual and reproductive health.

“We wanted to open a place in west Omaha where young people, no matter their age, feel comfortable,” OneWorld CEO Andrea Skolkin said.

Visitors toured what organizers called a major milestone. The clinic, designed specifically for teens and young adults, offers all the services of a general practitioner’s office in an area of the metro that has not seen similar community-based service options before.

“We’re branching out. The need is throughout the entire city,” said state Sen. and One World board member John McCollister.

One of the most pressing needs is sexual and reproductive health treatment and education.

“Kids, you know, are not really the brightest at this age, but I feel like it’s very good to be well-informed,” Omaha South High School junior Gabriel Reyes said.

Reyes is part of a group of teens that was put together to advise clinic staff on what kinds of services young people need.

“I know that a lot of kids are not comfortable going to their parents or, like, anyone at school for information like this, especially sexual health,” Dennis Hernandez, another teen adviser, said.

“The more people we reach, the more positive message we can share with other people about safe sex,” Antonio Maya, another teen adviser, said.

The new clinic will offer education, counseling and medical treatment, if needed. Its goal is to reduce instances of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies throughout the metro.

“Our data shows that with proper provider guidance we avert that behavior,” Skolkin said.

OneWorld charges uninsured patients on a sliding fee scale. They just need proof of one month’s worth of income to determine fees. That scale is based on federal poverty guidelines. For more information, you can visit their website.