Agenda - 02-01-1993 - III-B - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 5. Establish mode of transportation from schools to clinic to provide transportation for at least four students per clinic day by September 20 1993. 6 . Develop access to mental health services at both clinical sites. 7 . Increase availability of mental health services in school system in Hillsborough (Northern Orange County) by September 30, 1993. 8. Increase availability of mental health services in Chapel Hill/carrboro school system (Southern Orange County) by September 1994. 9 . Establish a follow up network in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro school system that insures linkage from school to clinic and clinic to school. 10. Develop an organized system to access any possible funds for care. The project is needed because adolescence is a time of great need when very important preventive work can be done. Many adolescents are unable to fulfill their potential due to physical and mental health problems which go untreated. Adolescents are the only population in the United States that has not experienced an improvement in health status over the past 30 years. In fact, a recent random survey of adolescent student health cards in the southern part of the county indicated that 16% had no medical provider and 19% used the emergency room for primary health care. The model in Northern Orange which incorporates the Health Department clinic, the Adolescents in Need program and the services of the school nurse has proven to be successful in accessing comprehensive care for adolescents. The clinic currently serves over 300 adolescents each year in over 400 visits. Based upon the percentages of Southern orange students with no regular primary care provider, this model is very much needed to serve this population. The grant is needed to provide the resources necessary to establish this service. The North Carolina General Assembly has appropriated $200,000 to fund four adolescent programs. Initial funding will be for a period of 15 months beginning in April 1993 through June 1994 with annual renewals available for the subsequent four years. $12,500 is available for the first three months. Funding is level at $50,000 for the first three years with years four and five reduced by 30 percent each. No matching funds are required. The funding will be used for a clinic manager, school nurse and physician time at .11 FTE each, medical and office supplies, medical equipment, and other operating expenses necessary to establish the clinic. Orange County's proposal was developed by a team of professionals representing the Adolescents in Need Program, both school systems and the Health Department with input from the area Mental Health Center. The development of an Orange County Coalition for Healthy North Carolina Youth is underway with invitations being extended to other key agencies, the local community health center - OCCHS, and private providers. RECOMMENDATION(S) : The manager recommends authorizing the Health Department to submit the grant application on behalf of the orange County Coalition for Healthy North Carolina Youth to the Division of Maternal and Child Health, the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources.