School-Based Health Center at RFHS
After feedback from a variety of stakeholders throughout the Carbondale public education system, the CEF Board and its members have decided to focus our initial fundraising efforts on providing $40,000 in funding required to build a new school-based health center at Roaring Fork High School.
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As we seek to improve our community by inspiring a lifelong love of learning in our children, we recognize that both physical and mental health are prerequisites for that journey. Yet for many of the children (and their families) in our community, accessing health services can be difficult.
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A fully-staffed health center at Roaring Fork High School allows any and every child in our community to access quality medical, dental and behavioral health during and after school hours.
By the numbers...
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270 (13% of student population) currently served via part-time facility
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56.9% of current patients are enrolled in Medicaid
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32.4% are uninsured
How does this initiative improve public education?
Lack of access to medical services for our students has a negative impact on classrooms. Many students simply don't seek medical care, resulting in sick students unable to learn or prolonged absences from the classroom. And for those that do seek medical care, many must skip most or all of their school day to seek treatment in other parts of the Valley.
The result is a constant disruption in classroom programming that negatively impacts all students. A healthy classroom where students are present, both physically and mentally, creates an environment where both teachers and students can thrive.
“We can't educate children who are not healthy, and we can't keep them healthy if they're not educated. There has to be a marriage between health and education.”
Joycelyn Elders
Healthy Kids Learn Better.
A full range of services is provided to students through the Mountain Family School-Based Health Centers:
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Well child/adolescent visits
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Acute illness/injury care
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Chronic conditions management
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Behavioral health services
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Substance use disorder prevention and counseling
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Sexual health education, testing, and treatment of sexually transmitted disease
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Birth control counseling and initiation and continuation of all methods including hormonal and long acting reversible contraception
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General health counseling to promote healthy lifestyle habits including nutrition, eating disorders, and exercise
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Dental services, including cleanings, exams, X-rays, and sealants
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Sports physicals
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Routine lab work
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Immunizations, including the flu and COVID-19
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Referrals to community health care and social support partners
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Help with insurance enrollment and financial assistance program
