WATERVLIET, N.Y. >> Students returning to school next month in the Watervliet City School District will find there is a new health center they can utilize.
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center and the Watervliet City School District announced the opening Friday of a school-based health center for students in the district for the upcoming school year.
Officials said the school-based health center provides primary and preventative medical services to students enrolled in the program and promotes the overall health of the child.
With a Whitney Young Health school-based health center on site, officials said WCSD students will no longer have to travel to a physician or licensed clinical social worker to address physical and mental health needs. Officials said they are not looking to replace any primary care physicians the students may already have, but instead want to work as a supplement to that. For example, officials said, the health center means parents/guardians will not have to take a day off from work to bring children to a doctor’s office.
The Whitney Young Health school-based health center will be located in the nurse’s office on the first floor of the Watervliet Jr./Sr. High School. The health services will be offered to any student enrolled in the WCSD. The district will provide transportation via school bus for elementary students to visit the school-based health program at the WJSHS.
“Our school-based health centers have proven to be extremely successful at addressing health concerns for students in the underserved populations that we treat,” said David Shippee in a news release, President & CEO of Whitney Young Health. “Healthy students are better students. They can focus on their studies and learn in the classroom. As an integral part of the health care safety net, Whitney Young Health knows that we must take health care services directly to those that need them. We’ll continue to look for more ways to develop innovative relationships, like this partnership with Watervliet City Schools.”
Whitney Young Health accepts all health insurance carriers, and offers assistance to parents in obtaining health insurance. There will never be an “out-of-pocket” expense for any services provided by Whitney Young Health, officials said.
“We are beyond excited to partner with Whitney Young Health to offer a school-based health program for our students. Having this program on-site will ensure students of all backgrounds have access to high-quality health care when they need it,” said Watervliet Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lori Caplan in a news release. “The new school-based health center will provide our students the opportunity to have their basic health care needs met. From an educator’s perspective, any steps we can take to improve children’s health and help reduce time students spend away from the classroom is a win in my book.”
School-based health centers are operated as a partnership between a school and a community health center, such as Whitney Young Health. Services are based on the community needs and can include primary medical care, dental care, substance abuse counseling, mental/behavioral health and health education and promotion. Students can be treated for illnesses such as flu or strep throat, or chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes.
“I like it, it’s a good idea,” said incoming Watervliet High School senior Zagham Shah during the tour Friday. “[I think] students really need it…. I think it’s a good tool to have.”
This is the continuation and expansion of a wildly-successful program with Albany City Schools. During the 2017-2018 school-year, there were a total of 2,496 visits to three school-based health centers, and Whitney Young Health is listed as the primary care provider for 525 students. Giffin Memorial Elementary, Sheridan Preparatory Elementary School, Philip Schuyler Achievement Academy all have enrollment rates above 70% for their students.
