TESTIMONY
Testimony of Dr. David Apple on School-Based Health Centers
0:02:17
·
6 min
Dr. David Apple takes the floor to advocate for the inclusion of school-based health centers as an essential service.
Chair Schulman cuts the testimony short, stating that this is not the forum for his testimony.
Speaker 2
0:02:17
So we will now hear from doctor David Apple.
0:02:21
If you would like to come up.
Speaker 1
0:02:35
Before you start, sir, I wanna acknowledge we've been joined by council member Ariola.
Speaker 2
0:02:41
You may begin when you're ready.
Speaker 3
0:02:54
Good morning.
0:02:57
I'm here to in support of the bill and to advocate for school based health centers to be included as an essential service for children.
0:03:09
A recently immigrated parent brings her seven year old daughter to enroll in a school close to the shelter where they reside without health record or proof of vaccinations.
0:03:19
They are sent by the main office to the school based health center where the child receives a physical exam in her first set of vaccinations.
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She's enrolled in start school that day.
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A high school student overdose was non sponsored in the hallway until the provider from the school based health center administered Narcan, revived him and brought him to the health clinic while EMS was on the way.
0:03:42
A ten year old has an asthma attack in a Brooklyn school.
0:03:46
His parents working 90 minutes away in Brooklyn.
0:03:49
An asthma nebulizer treatment is administered at the school based health center, a prescription for preventive medications provided.
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His primary care provider is contacted He returns to class.
0:04:00
His mother picks him up after school, after completing her shift at work.
0:04:05
A fourteen year old distraught teen walks into her school based health center after getting in over her head with a twenty one year old boyfriend the day before.
0:04:15
She has an immediate confidential visit given plan b screen for STIs, including HIV, a return appointment, and a reproductive healthcare visit as well as appointment for counseling.
0:04:27
She returns to class to complete her school day.
0:04:31
Every day, a 159,000 children in teens grades k through twelve including over 22,000 residing in temporary housing and over 4000 migrant children residing in the most impoverished neighborhoods in New York City have access to medical, mental health, and often dental, and vision care provided by their school based health centers.
0:04:53
These centers operate in 460 schools across a 140 school campuses throughout the 5 boroughs of New York City.
0:05:02
School based health centers are clinics and schools staffed by multidisciplinary team of full time medical providers, nurses, medical assistants, mental health providers, many include health educators, community outreach workers, dentists, and optometrists.
0:05:19
Services include full range of immunizations, treatment for chronic illnesses, most notably asthma, diabetes, immediate treatment for acute illnesses, for teens access to reproductive of healthcare services and on-site contraceptive methods, preventive dentistry, providing seal and fluoride treatment for thousands of children.
0:05:40
Mental health services include crisis intervention screening and ongoing individual group counseling.
0:05:47
They routinely School Based Cell Centers are routinely called upon to help students with problems such as depression, anxiety, abuse, family violence, substance use, suicide feelings, post traumatic stress, and gang pressure.
0:06:02
Principles of schools with school based health centers that provide mental services, speak of them as virtual necessities.
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All services provide in school based health centers are at no cost to families regardless of their immigration status or insurance status.
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School based health centers or HealthEquity at its best.
0:06:24
They increase access to wellness care visits by students, they reduce emergency room use and increase school attendance.
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They attract harder to reach populations especially migrants, minorities, and males do a better job at providing crucial services such as mental health care and high risk behavior screens.
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They significantly decrease absenteeism and tardiness among adolescents receiving counseling, increased willingness to seek medical services especially for students reporting depression and past suicide attempts, and for those seeking information on pregnancy prevention.
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There are higher rates of screening and treatment for STIs, HIV, AIDS screening, patients report, increased condom use.
0:07:13
They reduce teen births and teen pregnancies by offering on-site contraceptives, including Lark, They increase Lark use, and they reduce cost between 20082017, school based health centers averted an estimated 5376,000 pregnancies in New York City alone.
0:07:39
School based health centers relieve principals, teachers, and administrative staff from time consuming medical and mental health emergencies creating a calmer and more stable environment for children to learn.
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Parents, especially those with children with chronic health conditions, align school based health centers, to enable them to avoid work loss and maintain steady employment.
0:08:00
Students love them because they meet children where they are in their schools.
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K?
0:08:05
The massive influx of newly migrated families make school based health centers more important than ever.
0:08:11
There's un unprecedented need for mental services post COVID.
Speaker 1
0:08:15
Sure.
0:08:15
Don't read the whole paragraph, please.
Speaker 3
0:08:16
Okay.
Speaker 1
0:08:18
Let me just say this to you.
0:08:20
This isn't the forum for this.
0:08:21
We're going to have budget hearings in March, but we appreciate your testimony and we have it submitted too.
0:08:26
So
Speaker 3
0:08:26
Okay.
Speaker 1
0:08:27
Thank you very much.
Speaker 3
0:08:28
Thank you very, very much.
Speaker 1
0:08:36
I also want to acknowledge we've been joined by counsel,
Speaker 2
0:08:43
Alright.
