Program Summary

Phoenix Baptist Hospital School-Based Health Centers, in collaboration with the BHHS Legacy Foundation, Arizona Department of Health Services, Alhambra School District and in conjunction with St. Vincent de Paul Dental Clinic, offer primary medical care and dental services to children who are uninsured and underserved.

Program Data and Information

August 1997 - June 2006

• Number of Children Impacted by Program - Over 18,200
• Number of Children Receiving Care - Over 10,500
• Number of Visits for Primary Health Care/Medical Visits - Over 17,900
• Number of Visits for Dental Care (services began July 2001) - Over 6,000

Services

Staff members work closely with school nurses, school social workers, and parents to bring health care services, as well as health care education, social services and job referrals to those children and their families. Services include:

• Diagnosis/treatment of major and minor illnesses (diabetes, asthma, seizure disorders, etc.);
• Medications and prescriptions;
• Immunizations, physical exams, well child care in addition dental services;
• Referrals to hospitals, specialty physicians, immunization clinics, mental health services, radiology and lab;
• Health education including nutrition, exercise, and the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

In many cases PBH School-Based Health Centers provide the only health care a child receives! The program has had over 17,900 visits since it began in August 1997.

Community Impact

The expanded and enhanced School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) program has positively impacted the lives of thousand of children in the central Phoenix community by:

• Reducing school absenteeism and improving academic achievement. Over 80% of the children seen by the SBHC provider have returned to class, allowing them to focus on learning and academics.
• Reducing emergency room usage by the targeted children. Over 90% of program participants have indicated through client satisfaction surveys that without services provided by the School-Based Clinics, they would have obtained services at a local Emergency Department.
• Management of chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes and others.

Sites

Our providers spend one day per week at each of the following seven designated sites:

Andalucia Primary and Middle Schools - 47th Avenue & Campbell Avenue
Barcelona Middle School - 44th Avenue & Maryland Avenue
Carol G. Peck School - 49th Avenue & Bethany Home Rd.
Sevilla Primary and Middle Schools - 38th Avenue & Missouri Avenue
Cordova Primary and Middle Schools - 35th Avenue & Missouri Avenue
Westwood School - 23rd Avenue & Camelback Road
Montebello School - 27th Avenue & Bethany Home Rd.
Simpson School - 23rd Avenue & Missouri Avenue
Granada East School - 32nd Avenue & Campbell Avenue
Granada Primary School - 32nd Avenue & Campbell Avenue
Maryland School - 21st Avenue & Maryland Avenue

Program Staff

The PBH/School-Based Health Centers Program is unique in its commitment to educate parents about their child's illness in order to help them provide the best care at home advancing the recovery process. Families are included in meetings discussing methods to improve their child's health. Utilizing a holistic approach, our Eligibility Coordinator works with families with issues pertaining to nearly every aspect of life. The Eligibility Coordinator educates them about resources for child care while they attend medical appointments; helps non-working parents with job referrals, and assists with a variety of advocacy issues, such as housing, utilities, and basic nutrition to assure the child's home life is as healthy as possible.

For more information regarding the program contact: James Washington, MPH, Director, Abrazo Health Care, School-Based Health Centers, 602-246-5853 or jwashington@abrazohealth.com.