Health Center located at the elementary school - is this a good or bad thing?

[Anonymous]

I just learned that our local elementary school, along with several other Montgomery County schools, has an on-site medical center. How common is this??? When I was a child, the school administration had very strict regulations prohibiting anyone who was not a student or parent of the student from being on school premises. Do these centers serve anyone, or is it only the families of enrolled children???? I guess it's useful to have medical services readily available, but if it's like a little medi-clinic serving the general population I think that would freak me out a little. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'd love to hear why my concerns are either valid or just plain stupid.

[Anonymous]

This is really unbelievable. Which schools have this currently? If it is extended to those outside of the community.....I would NOT be happy!

[Anonymous]

Can you call the center and ask who they serve?

[Anonymous]

I'm the 13:57 PP. I just googled this topic and found this website. http://www.infomontgomery.org/Pages/SearchResult/Summary.aspx?PrgID=289

Unbelievable!! The County can barely provide services to the kids in the schools, yet have opened up eligibility outside of students!!!!

[Anonymous]

It looks like the services are geared to children. That could be a good thing for some families.

[Anonymous]

I doubt that the services provided will be anything greater than giving out vaccines like candy to your children. At what point will they decide that "they" are going to be in charge of your child's health instead of parents? I'd be horrified if they did this at my childrens' school.

[Anonymous]

Whoa, take a deep breath guys. These are geared towards families with children - at a place where children go on a regular basis. If this means that kids with parents who do not have money or time to get them adequate health care are served, then what are we complaining about? No one is making anyone go to this clinic. Security can handle any weird situations but I do not know why anyone thinks this is a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt that the services provided will be anything greater than giving out vaccines like candy to your children. At what point will they decide that "they" are going to be in charge of your child's health instead of parents? I'd be horrified if they did this at my childrens' school.

FWIW, my child's school has a visiting dentist program, which we take part in. We don't have dental insurance, and our financial situation, while OK, isn't great, so I'm thankful to have access to this medical care. "They" aren't in charge of my child's health care, "I" am, and all dental procedures are authorized by "me" same as if I take my child to a private dentist, but I have to admit my child gets more regular checkups and dental care, because of this option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the 13:57 PP. I just googled this topic and found this website. http://www.infomontgomery.org/Pages/SearchResult/Summary.aspx?PrgID=289

Unbelievable!! The County can barely provide services to the kids in the schools, yet have opened up eligibility outside of students!!!!

where on your link does it state that services are available to non students?

[Anonymous]

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhstmpl.asp?url=/content/hhs/phs/index.asp

School Based Health and Wellness Centers

School Based Health/Wellness Centers operate in 4 elementary schools and 1 high school. The centers provide comprehensive health, mental health and social services, case management and health promotion in familiar and student and family-friendly environments.

Eligibility Requirements: Enrolled in Care for Kids, school or their siblings, aged 2 yrs. - 19 yrs.
Must live in a zip code served by the school.

Delivery Sites:
Broad Acres ES, 710 Beacon Rd., Silver Spring, MD, 20903;
Gaithersburg ES, 35 N Summit Ave.,Gaithersburg, MD, 20877;
Harmony Hills ES, 13407 Lydia St., Silver Spring, MD, 20906;
Summit Hall ES, 101 West Deer Park Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20877;
Northwood HS, 919 University Blvd. W., Silver Spring, MD, 20901

Information Numbers:
Broad Acres ES, 301 431-6010;
Gaithersburg ES, 301 926-1628;
Harmony Hill ES, 301 929-5575;
Summit Hall ES, 301-926-8879
Northwood High School Wellness Center, 301-649-8263

[Anonymous]

School Health Services

School Health Services assures and promotes the health, safety and well-being of students enrolled in public elementary, secondary and special education schools in Montgomery County Public Schools. Basic services include: first aid/emergency care, medication and treatment administration, hearing and vision screenings, case management of students with chronic health conditions, health promotion/education, and linking students to health care providers and other resources. School Community Health Nurses (RNs) and School Health Room Aides (Certified Nursing Assistants) provide a public health presence in schools to prevent and contain communicable diseases, assure that students are appropriately immunized, and respond to school and community wide emergencies. SHS also provides specialized programs including Head Start Health Services, School Based Health/Wellness Centers, Teen Pregnancy Prevention and the School Health Services Center at the MCPS International Student Office.

Eligibility Requirements: Students enrolled in Montgomery County Public Schools and their families.

Delivery Sites: All Montgomery County Public Schools; School Health Services Center, 4910 Macon Road, Rockville, MD, 20852
Information Number: 240-777-1550

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't want my child going to one of those schools if I could help it. Those are the most economically disadvantaged schools in the county and I wouldn't want my child there. There are numerous behavior problems, most of the kids don't speak English, kids are waayy below grade level and a lot of them offer a free, exceptionally unhealthy, breakfast to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want my child going to one of those schools if I could help it. Those are the most economically disadvantaged schools in the county and I wouldn't want my child there. There are numerous behavior problems, most of the kids don't speak English, kids are waayy below grade level and a lot of them offer a free, exceptionally unhealthy, breakfast to everyone.

And this is most likely why the schools have these health centers. I'm sure many students miss a lot of school due to illness, so it is advantagous to have an on-site center. From the description above it sounds like it is student focused rather than open to anyone off the street.

[Anonymous]

OP here - It is disconcerting to see the speed at which people equate economic disadvantage with bad school to be avoided at all costs. I fully support having health services available to school children who need those services. My concern is less with how it reflects upon the school than on the safety implications. If it's just the children and their families, not inviting random people onto the premises, that addresses my real concern. Whether the socio-economic composition of the school is a red flag indicating likely problems with a school, that's a totally different question. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I haven't thought about that, and I will definitely visit the school and speak with the principal and meet other parents etc. before deciding whether to send my kid. But I'm not going to write it off simply because of FARM statistics. That doesn't seem like a rational approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want my child going to one of those schools if I could help it. Those are the most economically disadvantaged schools in the county and I wouldn't want my child there. There are numerous behavior problems, most of the kids don't speak English, kids are waayy below grade level and a lot of them offer a free, exceptionally unhealthy, breakfast to everyone.

My child attends a school where 80% of the kids are on Free/reduced lunch. It is a Title One School, there are FEW behavior problems, and my daughter (advanced for her age level, no surprise!) is recieving a fantastic education there.