“They helped me when I needed it,
because some people usually don’t care,” says an 8th-grade student at Elmhurst Community Prep/Alliance Academy about LifeLong Medical Care’s School-Based Health Center there. LifeLong Medical Care’s School-Based Health Centers are designed to offer age-appropriate, comprehensive medical, dental, health education, and youth-development services during and after school hours. “We provide tools for students and families to be more successful,” says Kristine Carter, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Lead SchoolBased Clinician at LifeLong’s West Oakland Middle School (WOMS) Health Center. “We try to keep people healthy and safe enough to make good decisions for the future. We take a social, mental, and physical approach.”
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Y’all saved her life. You supported her. You showed her you cared and it was genuine.” — Grandparent of student
The Centers also provide psychosocial screening that surveys students about nutrition, self-harm, violence, sleep, and sexuality. Providers address any red flags immediately. “Some kids are being bullied or question their sexuality and are at risk for suicide.” The survey also can catch the silent kids who often feel nobody cares about them. The grandparent of an 8th-grade student at LifeLong’s WOMS Health Center says: “It’s what I’ve been looking for since her mom died. Y’all saved her life (when she wanted to commit suicide). You supported her. You showed her you cared and it was genuine . . . I love you guys.” LifeLong sponsors four School-Based Health Centers: Elmhurst Community Prep/Alliance Academy, West Oakland Middle School, Emeryville Health Center, and Rosa Parks Elementary School (behavioral health services only). “We have a good rapport with communities,” notes Carter. “We offer flu clinics for community members and have a food pantry that serves 140 families a month. It’s really rewarding work.”
Care at School
School-Based Care Keeps Kids Healthy
LifeLong’s School-Based Health Centers provide tools to help kids and families be more successful, says Kristine Carter, a Nurse Practitioner at LifeLong’s West Oakland Middle School Health Center. The Health Center also sponsors vaccine clinics and a food pantry for the community at large. 2017 ANNUAL REPORT • 7