SCHA-MI Response to Governor’s Budget Proposal

Deborah Riddick

Yesterday, Governor Rick Snyder presented his budget recommendations through fiscal year 2013, with an overarching theme of a “simple, fair, and efficient” budget.  He spoke of a need for a shared sacrifice but also made a commitment to the preservation of Michigan’s safety-net.  To paraphrase, he pledged to help those in need until such time as they can do for themselves.  Consistent with that commitment, he proposed continued funding Michigan’s Child and Adolescent Health Centers (CAHCs) at their current level, ensuring that thousands of at-risk youth remain healthy and active learners…And for this we are thankful!

We are thankful that Governor Snyder clearly understands that these centers provide a simple, fair and efficient solution to improve the physical readiness of students across the state. The notion that health and productivity are inextricably linked and that schools are the appropriate location to instill health literacy is a simple concept to understand.  The belief that every child deserves support that places him on equal footing with his peers greatly increases his chances for academic success and provides for fair and equal opportunity.   And what more efficient use of resources can be found than to invest in the mental, physical, and social well-being of Michigan’s youth; an investment in this, our most precious of resources, secures Michigan’s future for generations to come!

On behalf of the thousands of future leaders, innovators, and their families, Thank You  Governor Snyder!  Because of your commitment, our nation’s promise to establish justice, promote the general welfare and to secure the blessings of our liberty for generations to come has hope of realization.  It’s quite an impressive start!

-Deborah Riddick

Healthy Relationships – Celebrating Valentine’s Day

Keri Bennett

Valentine’s Day:

-noun; February 14, observed in honor of St. Valentine as a day for the exchange of valentines and other tokens of affection.

Is there any better time than today to discuss healthy relationships with our adolescents?  One of the major benefits to our school-based health centers is that it opens the door to these conversations.  The day to “exchange tokens of affection,” whether it is with friends, family or dating partners, demonstrates our responsibility to step up and speak out!

SCHA-MI challenges you…can you find at least one teen and ask them to evaluate their relationships.  Ask them, “Do your relationships exhibit…”

• Honesty?
• Accountability?
• Support?
• Balance?
• Trust?
• Respect?
• Respectful communication?
• Fairness?
• Independence?

February not only marks SBHC Awareness Month, but also National Teen Dating Violence and Prevention Month.  SBHC’s can partner and help our adolescents break the silence and cycle.  President Obama stated, “Adolescents in controlling or violent relationships may carry these dangerous and unhealthy patterns into future relationships.  The time to break the cycle of teen dating violence is now, before another generation falls victim to this tragedy.”

Did you know…

A majority of parents (54%) admit they’ve not spoken to their child about dating violence.
Empower Program, sponsored by Liz Claiborne Inc. and conducted by Knowledge Networks, Social Control, Verbal Abuse, and Violence Among Teenagers, (2000).

In a study of gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents, youths involved in same-sex dating are just as likely to experience dating violence as youths involved in opposite sex dating.
“Prevalence of Partner Violence in Same-Sex Romantic and Sexual Relationships in a National Sample of Adolescents,” Halpern CT,Young ML, Waller MW, Martin SL, Kupper LL. Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 35, Issue 2, Pages 124-131, (August 2004).

Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.
Jay G. Silverman, PhD; Anita Raj, PhD; Lorelei A. Mucci, MPH; and Jeanne E. Hathaway, MD, MPH, “Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality,” Journal of the American
Medical Association, Vol. 286, (No. 5, 2001).

Together, we must not ignore the problem that is before us.

Health and Educationally Yours,

Keri Bennett

Kids Count 2010 Data Book Released – SBHCs Integral Component

Alicia Guevara

Yesterday, the Kids Count in Michigan 2010 Data Book: The Education Connection was released and shows that young people need to be supported holistically from cradle to career for economic success in our state.

An important part of this is child and adolescent health; SCHA-MI and its membership of school-based/linked health centers are critical to supporting student health and education. In partnership with the Michigan League for Human Services and Michigan’s Children, the producers of Kids Count in Michigan, SCHA-MI held a press conference at Otto Middle School in Lansing–one of over 100 school-based/linked health centers in Michigan–to demonstrate exactly that point.

A SBHC is like a doctor’s office in a school bringing access to health care right to where the students are at: school. SBHCs provide students with quality primary and mental health services in a safe, easily accessible location. Serving over 200,000 children of all grade levels in urban, rural, and suburban schools and communities across the state, SBHCs are strategically located in medically underserved communities where access to health care for children and youth is an issue.

According to the Kids Count in Michigan 2010 Data Book, the number of children living in poverty continues to rise and in Michigan approximately one of every five of our children is living in poverty. It is much higher for children of color: nearly one of every two African American children and more than one out of three Hispanic children live in poverty. These indicators are troubling for both health and education outcomes. Low-income children are more likely to face chronic challenges related to their oral, mental, and physical health, including obesity, asthma, and lead poisoning.

We know that kids who are healthy learn better and we heard that at yesterday’s Kids Count release press conference from the youth from Otto Middle School who were present:

Anji told us about how visiting her health clinic helped her to stay healthy, focus on her school work, and keep doing good.

RJ explained how much he enjoyed playing sports and that the Otto health center was there to help with physical fitness and nutrition.

De’Marquisse helped us to understand how his SBHC helped him to make healthy choices, liking eating nutritious and exercising 60 minutes a day.

These young people are only a few of the thousands of students who benefit from having a SBHC/SLHC right at or near their school. They are fortunate to have the access to health care to improve their health and educational outcomes as they become our future workforce and leaders.

Read our press release on the Kids Count 2010 Data Book: The Education Connection.

Read remarks from Michele Strasz, SCHA-MI Executive Director, from the press conference.

Visit the Kids Count website for more statewide and local data.

-Alicia Guevara

Welcome to SCHA-MI’s New Blog!

Michele Strasz

During the month of February, we will be celebrating School-Based Health Center Awareness Month! As we recognize the work that our health centers do every day on behalf of children in Michigan during SBHC Awareness Month, SCHA-MI is launching its new blog. We hope that you will celebrate with us during SBHC Awareness Month to showcase the critical connection school-based and school-linked health centers have in preparing and helping our young people become the next leaders for our state and country. Healthy Kids Learn Better! Visit our website for resources and tools.

In my first post, in addition to inviting you to celebrate SBHC Awareness Month in February, I would like to layout my ideas for sustaining the legacy of SCHA-MI that I have been entrusted with. I am honored to have been selected as the Executive Director of SCHA-MI in November. It has been an amazing learning process so far, which I will tell you more about in my next post.

My vision for SCHA-MI is to create a vibrant and dynamic network of health centers that provide access to the highest quality primary care and health education for our student patients.  To do that, SCHA-MI will focus on three core areas:

1. Advocacy: Maintaining our state funding and creating opportunities for school health in federal health care reform implementation.
2. Communication: Making SCHA-MI the “go to” organization for information on school-age and adolescent health care.
3. Quality Customer Service: Capitalizing on the Alliance Billing & Data Management Services, including billing and electronic health record (EHR), to provide the mechanism for centers to finance quality health care services.  SCHA-MI will also be expanding its training and technical assistance to remain on the cutting edge of clinical care and evidence-based strategies to improve the health outcomes of our student patients.

I am humbled by the responsibility I have to carry forward the vision and foundation created by Deb Brinson. I also want to extend a thank you to our Board of Directors for providing dedicated leadership to carry out the mission of SCHA-MI to advocate for access to high quality primary and preventive care for children and youth!

The SCHA-MI staff, now 12 strong, is a creative, passionate team of professionals who are here to serve you and the children and youth cared for in our school-based and linked health centers.

I look forward to hearing from you—the parents, youth, professionals, partners and advocates in the field as we chart new territory in this blog.

In the coming months, we would like to feature blogs from youth, parents, and professionals in the field. If you are interested in being a contributing writer, please contact Alicia Guevara, Communications and Membership Coordinator.

Together for health!

Michele