MAYOR ANNOUNCES THAT FULL HEALTH AND DENTAL SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS WITHIN HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that two new school-based health centers have been established so that every student from the PreK Early Childhood Program to Grade 12 can receive full medical and dental care in the Harrisburg School District.
"Our nation faces the very real challenge of assuring access to quality health and dental care to its citizens. The fact that so many Americans have no health insurance and cannot afford it is a major national issue.
"For our children in Harrisburg attending public schools, we now solve this problem by providing in-school medical and dental services for all students.
"We conclusively know that students who are sick or have chronic illnesses are more likely to be absent from school. We know that when medical and dental problems exist, they interfere with a child’s ability and attention to learn. These matters are now fully addressed.
"The provision of these and other student support services makes the school a focal point of a student’s life, creating the opportunity and capacity for academic success unfettered by the array of distractions and challenges that can impede student attendance and learning," Reed said.
Joining the Mayor for the announcement and dedication of the school health centers were Superintendent Dr. Gerald Kohn and Jeannine Peterson, CEO of Capital Region Health System, Inc./Hamilton Health Center.
Reed said the concept of the School-based Health Center emerged in response to the increasing number of City children and adolescents who not only lack access to health care, but also require health care that is culturally and age-sensitive, confidential, safe, geographically accessible, and suited to their unique developmental needs.
Reed said that within the City, many young people do not have regular access to dental and wellness services. More than 91 percent of the District’s students are economically disadvantaged as measured by qualification for free or reduced cost lunch. Twenty-two percent of all sixth graders and 29 percent of all seventh graders are either slightly or significantly overweight.
Reed said that due to these and other factors, in 2005, the Harrisburg School District, in partnership with Hamilton Health and the Highmark Foundation, set out to implement a three-year plan for the development of a school-based model of health care delivery for its more than 9,000 students. The two new centers are now located at the Downey and Camp Curtin Schools. An additional center, already open, is a community-based health center in Foose School and offers health care to both children and community members. The health center at Foose School is operated by Hamilton Health Center.
Reed said this places school health centers in geographically strategic venues across Harrisburg.
"We are committed to doing all we can to facilitate a quality education for all the children of Harrisburg. Their health and well-being are essential to their achieving to their highest ability," said Reed. "Nothing less than the best care is acceptable for our children, who have every bit as much potential as other children who, for economic reasons, have better access to quality health care. These centers improve not only the health and well-being of District students, and their ability to concentrate on their studies, but also that of other students in Dauphin County who are already taking advantage of the services. It is our hope that an ever-increasing number of families will bring their children to the Centers for the excellent care that is being offered."
The Mayor said that the Downey School Health Clinic, for instance, offers medical, dental, and health education services to the students of the Harrisburg School District, as well as to children in the surrounding districts in Dauphin County.
He said services available from staff of professional medical and dental personnel (including a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, dentist, and dental hygienist) include:
- Medical
- Physicals
- Body Mass Index measurements and tracking
- Immunizations
- Sick Visits – Asthma, allergies, stomach viruses, eye problems, ear aches, minor injuries
- Referrals
- Dental
- Exams
- Cleanings
- Fluoride treatments
- Sealants
- X-rays
- Restorative care such as fillings or extractions
Additionally, mental health therapists are co-located in 11 schools in the District. Together, the two school-based health centers, the community health center, and mental health services provide a comprehensive level of access to health care for the families of Harrisburg. This well-organized and efficient system of care decreases fragmentation of health and dental care in the community and increases efficiency and access to quality care, said Reed.
Reed also said that health education services available through the Centers include Nutrition Education and the TEAMM Program (Together Eat Healthy and Move More). They are also expanding this year to include asthma education to fourth grade students in seven elementary schools.
"Traditionally, the school setting has been reactive to students’ medical care," said Jeannine Peterson, CEO of Hamilton Health Center. "What now exists is a preventive delivery of care to help students succeed in both school and life. From body-mass index tracking to dental cleanings, we can help students with the right health care service at the right time."
"A Highmark Foundation grant enabled us to start this important program because many of our students have no routine dental or health care," said Dr. Gerald W. Kohn. "Our school centers have the potential for serving more than 9,000 students. Students being served are healthier and thus absent less frequently and better able to concentrate when in school, leading to improved academic achievement throughout the school year."
Reed said that if a student does not attend Downey or Camp Curtin School, transportation is available from the home school to the nearest health center. Costs for the van are covered by Medical Assistance or through the District. He also said that the health centers participate with most insurance companies, but if a child has no insurance, a Benefits Coordinator will work with the family to obtain insurance through CHIP or Medical Assistance, which the family is qualified to receive.
Reed said that the District’s health centers are made possible by a generous grant from the Highmark Foundation, partnered with Gateway Health Plan and United Concordia Companies. Giant Foods also provided a general donation in 2007-08 to support health education programs. He said that conservative plans predict that with expected levels of utilization and reimbursement from Medical Assistance and other insurers, the Centers will be financially self-sufficient by 2011.
During the school year, the Centers’ hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the Centers are also open in the summer months, although the hours will vary. For more information, families should contact the director, Ms. Marcella Myers, at 703-1268.
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