The following are real-life examples of Jefferson and Orleans Parish school-based health centers in action and their direct effect on the students they treat.

Behavioral Health

• A student was close to failing out of school because of excessive absences.  After counseling the student the school determined that he was missing school because he was caring for his mother who was dying of cancer.  The student was set up with home schooling by our psychiatrist and social worker, but came to the health center weekly for counseling and medication checks. He ended up graduating, but he didn't want to go to the big graduation. The health center did a special ceremony in the health center with the family and the principal came to the health center and gave his diploma out to him. He would have surely dropped out in 11th grade due to absences. His mother who was dying was very proud of her son and grateful to the health center for individualizing treatment and school for her son.
• A male student was diagnosed with ADHD some time ago and needed to be on medication.  However he did not take them regularly and was therefore having disciplinary issues at the school and it was also preventing him from participating in the sports program.  The school linked him to the SBHC which worked with him to get him on his medications and to take them regularly.  As a result, his behavior improved, his grades went up and he was able to actively participate in the sports program. 

Undiagnosed Congenital Heart Condition Discovered

Through  a routine sports physical conducted by a school-based health center, a 14 year old male was found to have a previously undiagnosed congenital heart condition.  The center staff immediately coordinated an urgent cardiology appointment with a full workup EKG and stress testing. The cardiologist and center staff now work together to make sure he is followed up on a regular basis. Equally as important, with the cardiologist’s help, the school was able to determine which physical activities he could safely participate in and still have a fulfilling high school career. Without the services at this clinic this patient might have remained undiagnosed and would have been high risk for a sudden cardiac incident or death.

Sex Education Sessions

At the request of a school principal and the school’s community advisory committee who saw a desperate need for education on the subject, the staff at the school-based health center conducted two sex education/ STD training sessions for 11^th and 12^th graders.  This collaboration between the school and the health center is a prime example of an effective working relationship coming together for the collective good of the students they serve.   In the five weeks following the training sessions, the center saw an increase in visits and STD screenings.  There was an 11% increase in visits, 200% increase in Chlamydia/Gonorrhea Testing, 240% increase in HIV testing and 400% Increase in Syphilis Testing.