News
August 21, 2018Whitney Young Health, Watervliet City Schools Announce Partnership During National Health Center Week
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center and Watervliet City Schools will open a School-Based Health Center for students in the district for the upcoming school year. 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. A media availability and tour of the new space are scheduled for Friday, August 17 at 11:00 a.m. at the Watervliet Junior / Senior High School, 1245 Hillside Drive, Watervliet.
“Our school-based health centers have proven to be extremely successful at addressing health concerns for students in the underserved populations that we treat,” David Shippee, 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.”
“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. “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, 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.
This is the continuation and expansion of a wildly-successful program with Albany City Schools. During 2017-2018 school-year, there were a total of 2,496 visits to all three school-based health centers, and Whitney Young Health is listed as the primary care provider for 525 students. Giffen Memorial Elementary, Sheridan Preparatory Elementary School, Philip Schuyler Achievement Academy all have enrollment rates above 70% for its students.
