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The Teen Health Center at English High School in Jamaica Plain, the first licensed school-based health center in Boston, celebrated its 10-year anniversary with an open house last week-no small feat in the midst of slashed budgets for school programs statewide.
A satellite of BWH and Brookside Community Health Center, the Teen Health Center provides primary care and mental health services to teens who might otherwise have difficulty accessing such care.
“Many of our students literally come from every corner of the world and health care may not have been available to them,” said English High School Headmaster Jose Duarte. “They come to us and we can provide it. Without this, many might not have a place to seek care or help.”
In addition to care services, the center focuses on prevention, selecting a new topic each year, including domestic abuse, weight management and smoking cessation.
“This center is something that BWH should feel proud of,” said Jo-Anne Dillman, RNC-NP, MA, program manger/nurse practitioner, who was instrumental in developing the center with Paula McNichols, Brookside's executive director, and Bobby Gottlieb, MD, who was Brookside's medical director during the Teen Health Center planning process.
“The Brigham has been tremendously supportive, especially in bringing together resources to get the center started and continue each year,” said McNichols, who credits the Partners Community Benefits Program run by Matt Fishman with funding for two-thirds of the program. “This kind of center contributes to the students' educational experience and ability to stay in school.”
The success of the center, which sees 1,000-1,400 visits each year, is due in part to its close ties with English High School nurses Anne Minichino and Joanne Cassis and the commitment of staff at Brookside, said Dillman.
Over the years, students have expressed their appreciation for the center. “I get cards from kids saying 'I couldn't have made it without you all,'” said Dillman. “We teach them that there are people in their lives who will help them.”