LOWER LAKE — An open house event was held at Lower Lake High School (LLHS) Monday celebrating the initiation of a project that will create a student wellness center at the campus. The center is intended to increase access to health services for high school students.
The center is scheduled to open to students in June 2013.
“Healthcare is paramount to the success of our student population,” Konocti Unified School District Superintendent Bill MacDougall said. “Preventative healthcare will help students come to school more often and in turn, allow them to learn more. This project benefits our students, our community and our schools.”
LLHS Principal Jeff Dixon recognized several key contributors to begin the open house program. He commended the efforts of Healthy Start Director Joan Reynolds, who spearheaded the project and grant writer Karen MacDougall, whose tireless efforts resulted in the award of an Affordable Care Act (ACA) grant for School-Based Health Centers capital program. The grants are made available through Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), which is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“I truly thank everyone involved in this project. This project will provide health services for kids ? kids who really need our help and support. This has been a piece that has been missing for a long time,” Dixon said. “When you are not feeling well, nothing in the classroom is going stick. We will be able to treat the health needs of the students and their intellectual needs.”
The center is being created in partnership with St. Helena Hospital, which was represented at the event. Others supporters in attendance included student and adult members of the Student Wellness Center Committee along with representatives of Lake County Public Health, Lake County Office of Education, Healthy Start, Konocti Unified School District, Redbud Healthcare District, Lake County Mental Health, Lake County Tribal Health, Redwood Children”s Services and the Health Leadership Network.
“These things don”t happen by themselves. This is happening because of a caring and supportive community. This is pretty incredible,” Congressman Mike Thompson, who served as the event”s guest speaker, said. “This is one example of how good healthcare reform is.”
Planning for the project began in January 2010. It will consist of renovating two existing spaces into a single 2,232-square-foot center located on the LLHS campus. The center will provide primary health care integrated with other health and wellness services. The licensed medical clinic will have two private examination rooms with sinks, an office, a nurses” station/laboratory area and its own signage. Remaining space will include two offices for support services and an office for a district nurse. A large group counseling room and reception area will also be included. Shared areas of the center will include gender-separate restrooms and a staff kitchen area.
Onsite partners will include: Adventist Health Family Clinic, which will serve as the medical clinic operator providing urgent and pediatric care, well-child services and more; KUSD school nurse, who will attend to immunizations and other needs; Safe Schools/Healthy Students, which will lead in one-on-one and group counseling and support group programs; and Healthy Start, which will attend to case management and health access.
The open house featured the music of the LLHS Concert Band and gourmet appetizers prepared by LLHS culinary students.
