Paula Williams was a young mother struggling to take care of her daughter Cierra. Times were tough and money was tight. When she needed a place to look after her little girl, Paula’s sister, then a teacher at Jack & Jill, suggested she bring her to the Center. Paula was shy and kept to herself but the staff was so welcoming that when her son was born, she enrolled him too. While at Jack & Jill, Paula participated in parent workshops where she learned that there were other families going through the same struggles. She quickly realized that it was okay to ask for help and that she wouldn’t be judged if she couldn’t afford diapers or her children’s clothes were old and worn. Knowing that someone was willing to help and encourage her motivated Paula to help later at a small hotel.

This past March, Jack & Jill was turned into a makeshift Medical Center! The UM Miller School of Medicine DOCS program, The Forum on Women's Health and the Friends of Jack & Jill along with staff, joined forces to create the most awe-inspiring site; a FREE comprehensive medical Health Fair open to the community. Over 140 patients (almost double that of last year) were offered screenings for body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, vision, glaucoma, breast and cervical cancer, bone density, skin cancer, HIV & STD’s. If the screenings weren’t enough, patients were given a thorough one on one checkup with a UM Doctor and med student.