Renton High School Gets New Student Health Center

From HealthPoint: King County Public Health Department’s Best Starts for Kids initiative has announced funding for a new school-based health center at Renton High School, which will be operated by HealthPoint, in partnership with the Renton School District, Renton Area Youth and Family Services (RAYS), and King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC).

The new clinic will begin serving Renton High School students at the start of the 2017-18 school year, while construction of the new facility is scheduled to be completed during the course of the year.

Lisa Yohalem, HealthPoint’s Strategy and Development Officer, stated, “This clinic will bring real benefits to the community. At Renton High School more than 65 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and students face multiple barriers to getting the health care they need. Economically distressed students and their families encounter challenges including transportation and inconvenient times for parents to take off work for their child’s appointment. This clinic right on campus will eliminate those difficulties.”

School-based health centers improve access to medical and behavioral health care and improve student outcomes. Adolescents are 21 times more likely to meet with a mental-health provider at their school than they are in the community. School-based health centers have cut the absentee rate in half among students who had three or more absences.

According to Dr. Damien Pattenaude, Superintendent, Renton School District, “Quality health care is synonymous with success in school. When a student and family can concentrate on academics and not worry about access to quality, affordable health care, it greatly increases a student’s immediate and future academic accomplishments.”

HealthPoint will provide traditional services to all Renton High School students, including primary and preventive care, behavioral health consultations, and nutrition counseling. After-school groups and classes focused on decreasing risky behaviors and supporting healthy lifestyle choices will be provided. Educational health and wellness instructions will also be available within the classrooms and to the athletes, at the teachers’ and coaches' request. Students can receive treatment for acute illnesses, such as the flu and chronic conditions, including asthma and diabetes, as well as behavioral health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use. Students will also receive screenings for dental, vision and hearing problems.

Renton Area Youth and Family Services (RAYS) will provide behavioral health services at the clinic. RAYS has been providing behavioral health services with students and their families at Renton High School since 1971.

King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) will work with HealthPoint and Renton High School staff to implement long-term prevention programing to increase pro-social behaviors, promote healthy decision making and support students in becoming thoughtful and responsible leaders in their community. KCSARC has worked in the Renton community since 1976.

Stated Yohalem, “We have a strong history of partnering with King County to improve the health of our communities, and we applaud them for making school-based health centers a priority. This clinic is also a great example of community-based organizations partnering to deliver innovative, integrated services.”

More than 1,225 students, ages 13-19 (grades 9-12), are enrolled at Renton High School. Approximately 35.7 percent of students speak a language other than English at home.

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