2008 Grant Proposal Details

Healthy Children Learn Better   District 4J

Total: $20321

Description:  Children living in poverty may be at risk for serious health problems, and often, they cannot learn because they are in pain. The four Eugene School Health Centers located in each of the high schools, serve as regional Health Centers for the nearby elementary and middle school students. However, because of transportation, language and accessibility barriers, many low-income young students do not access the Health Centers. During 2007-08 3,216 students obtained physical and mental health care, as well as referrals for vision checkups and dental care; of these 480 children were between the ages of 5-13. However, because of transportation, language and accessibility barriers, many other low-income young students do not access the Health Centers. This project will provide outreach clinics to help overcome the barriers that prevent young children from coming to the health centers, and provide comprehensive mental, physical and dental health care to the neediest young children in the school district. The project will make it possible for a nurse practitioner to sponsor nine outreach clinics at the Title I and middle schools; a nurse and a health assistant to coordinate the youth dental clinics at Lane Community College, the Children’s Dental Clinic, and in kindergarten and first grade classrooms; and a mental health therapist to provide counseling groups to at least 50 young students. Once the elementary school families learn about the existence of the school health centers, and have an initial visit, they access the health center for all their children’s health needs. Each $1,000 raised will assure that 25 children will obtain needed health care.

Why is this important?  The project ensures that low-income elementary and middle school children can access the school health centers as a medical home for illnesses, checkups, immunizations, referrals for vision checkups and dental care, and counseling for behavioral and emotional problems. Children First has given the following grades to the state of Oregon on their annual report for children’s health and well being: 2004 D-; 2005 D; 2006 D; 2007 F. This failing grade for 2007 is a reflection of the deteriorating financial situation in Eugene and Oregon where the number of uninsured children has increased dramatically. In the school district, there are many examples of unmet health needs: •87 children were excluded from school in February for not having basic immunizations; this number is expected to triple this year due to new requirements for hepatitis A and diphtheria/tetanus vaccines; •More than ½ of the kindergartners entering River Road have never had a well-child physical; •Dental screenings in 2007-08 at three elementary schools show students with serious dental decay: Edison—15 students, Chavez—85 students, Family School—13 students; •One mental health therapist referred 45 young children for outside therapy in 2007-08. By increasing outreach to the elementary and middle schools, low-income children will receive immunizations, well child exams, dental and vision care, and mental health therapy. A grandparent wrote the following letter: I would like to thank you ever so much for seeking out and providing dental work for my two grandsons. They are basically being raised by a single father with no insurance and currently unemployed so these services come at a time in their lives when they needed some extra help. Dental work is expensive yet having healthy teeth is important in the overall health of all of us. Good health care is difficult to obtain for students whose parents are unemployed and/or uninsured and projects like this one provide solutions.

Who will be served?  The nurse practitioner, nurse and an assistant will organize nine clinics at the Title I schools for 80 students; three clinics at the middle schools for 20 students; eleven dental clinics at Lane Community College for 150 students, a Kid Smile Day special event in February where dentists and dental hygienists will provide free dental care to 60 children,a dental prevention program at Adams, Cesar Chavez, Harris, Holt, River Road, Spring Creek for 500 students; and mental health therapy sessions for 50 young students

How will this be evaluated?  The nurse, nurse practitioner, mental health therapist and health assistant will track the following: • The number of elementary students who access physical and mental health services at the SBHCs after the first outreach clinic; • The number and types of visits at the elementary and middle school outreach clinics; • The number of students who obtain immunizations at the clinics and as result are not excluded from school in February; • The number of students who participate in the dental programs.

Does this build on existing programs?  Eugene’s school health centers are an enormous asset for the school district. The project will mean that more children with critical health needs will make use of this existing program. It will make it possible for Eugene’s poorest children to take advantage of existing dental clinics now supported by the Northwest Health Foundation, United Way, the Assistance League, and a federal-county- school district partnership. It builds on successful outreach clinics at the school sites previously funded by the Peace health Foundation and EEF.

Budget:  Nurse to coordinate clinics at the school sites and at the dental sites, 60 hours $6,696 -- Mental health therapist to lead mental health sessions, 60 hours $6,696 Health assistant to provide logistical and clerical support at clinics, 240 hours $6,929 Another $20,000 would double the services that assure low-income elementary school children are healthy and ready to learn.

Proposal #:  119