Wednesday, December 8, 2010

MEDIA ADVISORY: New School-based Clinic Could Save Lives And Boost Student Achievement

MEDIA ADVISORY from San Diego Unified School District, Dec. 8, 2010
NEW SCHOOL-BASED CLINIC COULD SAVE LIVES AND BOOST STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
WHAT: A new one-of-a kind school-based medical clinic opens this week at San Diego Unified's Central Elementary School that officials hope will have major impact locally and nationally. The mission of Central Elementary Health and Wellness Center in City Heights is to provide health care to the school's 860 students and their siblings. An estimated 1 in 4 children at Central Elementary do not have health care. This is the first of its kind clinic built on a campus and attached to a school nurse's office, with Central's nurse working in partnership with the clinic medical staff.
WHO: Central's Health and Wellness Center will be run by licensed medical professionals (doctors and nurse practitioners) through a partnership with San Diego Unified and local community clinics: La Maestra and San Diego Family Care. Together the community clinics treat the majority of student families in the area, making them trusted practitioners in the mid-city neighborhood.
WHERE: Dedication Ceremony is set for 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, in Central Elementary School's multipurpose room, 4063 Polk Ave. (92105). Guests include: Allison and Robert Price of Price Family Charitable Fund; The family of the late Elaine Springer, a former SDUSD District Counselor for whom the clinic is named; San Diego Unified Board President Richard Barrera; District Superintendent Bill Kowba; U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego; City Councilman Todd Gloria, 3rd District; Susan Davis; Roberta Feinberg, San Diego Family Care chief executive; Zara Marselian, La Maestra chief executive, and Central Elementary Principal Cindy Marten.
BACKGROUND: What makes this clinic unique is that it was built on campus attached to the school nurse's office with the help of a $50,000 grant from Price Family Charitable Fund. Central's nurse will work in partnership with the clinic staff who will run the clinic. Research shows that school-based health clinics work, improving both the physical and academic well-being of students.
Your coverage is invited on the new clinic and the special dedication.
CONTACT: Cindy Marten, Principal, Central Elementary School, (619) 281-6644
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