CLATSOP COUNTY RECEIVES GRANT TO ESTABLISH SCHOOL HEALTH CLINIC

The Clatsop County Public Health Department has won a state grant to establish a school-based health clinic at Astoria High School.

The $60,000 grant from the Oregon Health Authority will fund the planning and coordination for the new facility, which is proposed to open in spring 2013.

The clinic will offer primary health care services to Astoria School District students, beyond what’s now available from school nurses.

Margo Lalich, Public Health Director, said there’s been interest in setting up a school-based clinic locally for several years, but only recently did backers find the support and enthusiasm among stakeholders – coupled with the availability of the state grant – to finally move forward with the project.

“I reached out to our community partners and their response was “100-percent yes absolutely,” she said.

The clinic will be staffed by Coastal Family Health Center (CFHC), which is the project’s designated medical sponsor. Astoria School District will provide the space, but will not be responsible for any operating costs beyond utilities, administrative support and custodial service.

“This is a great opportunity for us to fill a need that students in the district have,” said Astoria School District Superintendent Craig Hoppes, who credited Lalich’s leadership in pushing the project forward.

The clinic will be open to all students in Astoria School District programs, including Head Start, special education and alternative high school.

“Oftentimes, kids in school end up neglecting their personal health because it’s too difficult to make it to the doctor,” said Jim Coffee, CEO of Coastal Family Health Center. Having a clinic on-site means kids don’t miss class, and parents don’t have to juggle their schedules, to make medical appointments, he said.

Improving access to healthcare also helps launch youth on a path of wellness and prevention that will pay life-long dividends, organizers say. This fits in with the state’s new Coordinated Care Organization patient-centered health initiative, Lalich said.

“Students will be actively engaged in developing the school-based health center, and this will allow them to be more engaged in their health,” she said.

Public Health will also make available to students and their families the department’s coordinator for the state Healthy Kids program, which provides insurance coverage for youth through the Oregon Health Plan

Details including staffing, hours and particular services offered will be set as the planning process moves forward. A steering committee representing the school district, Public Health, CFHC and other entities, as well as AHS students, will help guide the development of the facility.

There are more than 60 school-based health clinics in Oregon. While clinics tailor their services to each location, most offer the following: routine physical exams; diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses; treatment of minor injuries; vision, dental and blood pressure screenings; immunizations; and health education, counseling and wellness promotion.