Current and former mayors at West Seattle High School on Monday

This just in from the King County Public Health department:

In the span of 20 years, Seattle’s School-Based Health Centers have grown from a modest pilot program at Rainier Beach High School to a system that now serves the health needs of 5,000 students every year across 14 Seattle School District middle and high schools.

On Monday, February 2, City of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, Former City of Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson and Public Health – Seattle & King County Director and Health Officer Dr. David Fleming will join health care providers and community partners to celebrate this 20-year milestone in providing high-quality, comprehensive adolescent health care that improves the health of our community and promotes school success for our youth. …

* Celebration: At 10:30 a.m., Mayor Nickels, local officials and community partners will meet in the school library for a celebration and remarks, including testimonials from current students who use the School-Based Health Centers.

The announcement also mentions that WSHS principal Bruce Bivins will participate in the event, along with Lib Kratz, a Nurse Practitioner from Sealth Teen Health Center.

SpeakLoud January 30, 2009 (7:31 pm)

OK-here goes nothing but…didn’t we just close schools to save money so that the schools can focus on EDUCATION because that’s what Schools do? Why then are there health centers in schools? Don’t get me wrong I think there should be so many more things in schools than there are and health centers are great-kids should be healthy-but they should also be fed and clothed and safe-are we to provide all social services at the cost of education dollars?

westello January 31, 2009 (3:01 pm)

While I think there are things that could be cut, the Teen Health Centers are last to me. They provide so much to the kids that they need; information, free shots (flu, vaccines), sports physicals, counseling (both medical and mental) and privacy (when parents sign the consent form they allow the THC to treat the child without notifying the parent unless the child says he says he is going to hurt himself or others). For some teens, this is a lifesaver. For some teens, it is the only healthcare they get. For some teens, they wouldn’t be able to participate in sports without the services.

I get what you said about social services. But these services help keep kids in school and for teens, that is the end goal. Keep ’em in school and they’ll graduate.

Sorry, comment time is over.