Agenda - 11-16-1993 - III-B (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 ABSTRACT Our local steering committee for comprehensive adolescent health care is made up of providers from mental health, public health, social services, two school systems and Adolescents-in-Need Project staff. Through cooperative efforts we have developed a proposal that will provide comprehensive health care to teens identified in the needs statement as having little or no access to medical care. The Adolescents-in-Need Project (AIN) began in Northern Orange County in 1981. The Project provides medical and social work services to students in the school system who are identified as being at risk for pregnancy, drop out, run away, family dysfunction or health problems. Services are provided in the school and homes of the students by a social worker and nurse practitioner/pediatrician. In 1988 the Orange County Health Department (OCHD) and the AIN Project worked cooperatively to open a comprehensive health care teen clinic in Northern Orange County at the Hillsborough office of the OCHD. The target population is adolescents who are identified as having little or no access to care. Accessibility is insured by transportation to the clinic, no fee for service unless Medicaid or private insurance can be utilized, and confidentiality based on the current policy of the OCHD. The clinical services are provided by the AIN Project staff and the nursing staff of the Orange County Health Department. The teen clinic nurse is also the school nurse who provides services to middle and high school students. The presence of the same staff, AIN and school nurse, in the teen clinic and at the schools provides a network of continuity of services. With the Healthy NC Youth grant we plan to duplicate these efforts in the Southern branch of the Orange County Health Department. In addition, mental health services and dental care will be provided at both clinic sites. On site mental health.clinicians will address emergency needs and function as a referral source to the local mental health center and private providers. Dental services will be provided during adolescent clinic hours at both clinic sites in order to facilitate referrals and follow up. {