News

York City’s high school is about to get a school-based health center.

On Friday, Family First Health, a federally qualified health center, announced it plans to open a student-based health center at William Penn Senior High School.

The full-service primary care office will serve the school’s 1,600 students, expanding on the existing health office with student access to medical and integrated behavioral healthcare.

The health center already operates a school-based health center at Hannah Penn, a K-8 school. The new center will offer similar services found at the Hannah Penn center, including primary care, integrated behavioral health care, health and wellness coaching and mobile school dentistry.

“We know accessible healthcare provides greater opportunity for students,” said Jenny Englerth, Family First Health president and CEO. “When they can access the health care they need, students learn better, attendance rates improve, and graduation rates increase.”

Lancaster and Chambersburg also have school-based health centers.

Studies show that students who have access to school-based health centers do better in school, have higher high school graduation rates, and decreased school disciplinary issues, according to the School-Based Health Alliance.

Teenagers who are reluctant to see a doctor are more likely to get help for health issues like depression and anxiety, if they have access to a school-based health center, according to a report by KidsHealth.

“For almost 30 years we have had a longstanding relationship with Family First Health and our students have benefitted,” said Dr. Andrea Berry-Brown, Superintendent of the School District of the City of York. “We are excited because this new center at William Penn Senior High School allows us to give students access to seamless medical and behavioral health care services pre-K through 12th grade. We will reach more students and continue to show that when the community works together, it’s better for our students.”

William Penn Senior High School is ranked in the bottom 50% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores, according to US News & World Report. The school ranks 100% of its students as economically disadvantaged. It is the only high school in York.

There are about 2,500 school-based health clinics across the country.

Donations and pledges are being accepted through Family First Health to support the center at William Penn with a fundraising goal of $1.2 million.

(WHTM) — Patients at federal-qualified health centers — clinics that tend to serve those in need and those patients — don’t tend to get screened for cancer as much as other people.

But Family First Health in York says it has begun to close the gap. Family First is making a big push to make sure its clients get screened for breast cancer -cervical cancer -and colorectal cancer.

“For breast cancer and cervical cancer, we have outdone ourselves for, state of Pennsylvania average,” Clinical Quality Director Dr. Hetal Patel said. “And then the national federally qualified health center average for colorectal cancer, we did well above state average, but not the national average. And the goal is to continue on that journey.”

In 2023, Family First’s breast and cervical screening rates topped 50%. Although, the screening rate for the overall U.S. population is more like 80%.

Watch the video here.

No kid likes to get shots.

That’s something Dr. Hetal Petal has seen firsthand; from her patients and her own daughter.

“She always says ‘mommy, we can go to the doctor, but no shots,” Patel said.

That’s why Family First Health came up with a new way to teach kids about vaccines and why those shots are necessary. It’s a book called Little Heroes: Attack of the Galactic Grime. It’s an out-of-this-world story with an important earthly message.

“It’s a journey that we start – and it’s a long journey – and the book does that with all the stations,” Patel said. “We start in infancy and go all the way to 12.”

“They see these characters get these shots and realize ‘oh, they’re protected, so maybe it’s not so bad for me to get my shots and I’ll be protected, too,” said Lori Garman, manager of clinical services.

Garman and her daughter, Greta, were the creative forces behind the story.

Family First says routine vaccine visits waned during the pandemic and many are still not caught up yet. The book addresses the different types of shots, boosters and even the concept of herd immunity.

“It’s sort of like, ‘yes, we should do this so I am healthy, but I should also do this to protect everyone around me,” Patel said. “The book does a really good job of pointing that out.”

The book is available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.

“We felt it was pertinent to have it in all three languages,” Garman said.

You can pick up a free copy of the book at any Family First Health location. They also have an online version, which is interactive.

You can find the online version of the book here.

You can find more vaccine resources by clicking here.

Watch the video here.

Bright and early Thursday morning, as students filed into Hannah Penn K-8 for another day of learning, a small team transformed the school’s library into a mobile dentist clinic.

The initiative is part of Family First Health’s school dentist program, offering in-school dental care for all ages and grade levels. LaJuan Mountain, the vice president of dental services for Family First Health, said the clinic helps provide better accessibility to both students and parents who would otherwise be unable to visit the dentist.

“There was a barrier with parents not being able to get off work to get their kids into the office,” Mountain said. “So seeing them in a school setting prevents the parent from losing a day at work, and it prevents the child from missing a day at school.”

In addition to closing the divide for access, Family First Health is working to change the overall dental culture in the York community.

Oftentimes, Mountain said, individuals might only see a dentist when something is wrong. The same goes for kids, too, when it’s often too late.

These routine screenings provide essential care to ensuring a child’s teeth are healthy and strong, she added.

Family First Health’s dental unit partners with a number of schools in York, Adams and Lancaster counties. On Thursday at Hannah Penn, the team had 176 scheduled services with students.

Nicole Tome, the school-based health center manager at Family First Health’s Hannah Penn Center, said the program is a wonderful way to provide essential care while missing little class time.

“Attendance is a nationwide issue for schools — and it’s no different here in York,” Tome said. “But when we have students here, we want them to be in class and learning. So mobile school dentistry events really cut down significantly on the time that students are away from their seats.”

The entire process takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes and includes dental screenings, cleanings, X-rays and a fluoride rinse. Health professionals will then use the data collected during exams to determine how often they should return to school.

If a student requires additional care — filling cavities for instance — Family First Health will schedule those appointments, too.

The cost of care is covered by the parent’s insurance. In instances where a family might not have insurance, though, Family First Health will work to get them insured.

This could mean being covered by state-funded insurance, for example, Mountain said.

Though being called down to get dental care at school might be an embarrassing situation for children, Tome said the kids often come out of appointments feeling confident and empowered.

“I think they’re more proud of the moment and they feel good about themselves,” Tome said. “I think it’s helping to boost their self-esteem and they leave with smiles on their faces because they know that they now know a little bit more about how to take care of their bodies.”

You can learn more about Family First Health and its programs at www.familyfirsthealth.org.

Watch the video here.

State officials recognized the work of Family First Health Center in coordinating school-based health services as an outreach for students who may not otherwise be able to access dental, medical and vision care.

“Family First Health’s school-based health center is working to reduce barriers for families by providing critically needed services directly in school so that all young people, no matter their zip code, have equal opportunity to learn and grow,” said Val Arkoosh, secretary of the state Department of Human Services, in a news release after a visit to York City’s Hannah Penn K-8 School last week.

Hannah Penn K-8 is the location of a satellite office that provides students with a variety of services. Health officials pointed to the partnership that helped create the center as a potential model for increasing health care access.

“As a pediatrician, I’ve seen first-hand how school-based health clinics help children who otherwise may have gaps in their healthcare get the medical, behavioral, dental and vision services they need,” said Debra Bogen, the state’s acting health secretary, in the news release.

The Family First Health Center is open Monday through Friday with varying hours and offers health services to students. Adult and pediatric care are available as well as health exams, immunizations, preventative care and more, according to the center’s website.

This health center has Spanish interpreters on staff and trained staff members that assess eligibility for insurance assistance programs, in addition to various on-call staff to deal with emergencies 24/7.

In 2020, the health center received $2 million in grant funding from the United Health Foundation that allowed Family First Health to “significantly expand” its offerings, according to the state officials. The health center first opened in 1997 with help from the city, the school district and WellSpan Health.

The 2020 grant also funds health navigators who get families connected to more social services and home visits.

York, PA – Meeting the medical needs of the community in a comfortable, familiar setting. Family First Health, partnering with the York City School District, to provide a school-based health center for all.

“It is crucial,” said Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

In honor of National Health Center Week, Dr. Arkoosh toured the center at Hannah Penn Middle School. For 26 years, the school-based health center has offered exams, shots, lab capabilities and overall access to healthcare.

Serving 1,100 patients a year, from students to family members, the center makes healthcare more accessible.

“To have a place like this, that is convenient right at the family school, that has a sliding scale for payments, depending on the income status … those are services that not every doctor’s office can provide,” said Dr. Arkoosh.

Funding for the center comes from Medicaid reimbursement, individual payments and grants from private donors.

By C. Lisa Lathrop RN, BSN, IBCLC, Program Manager/Nurse Supervisor Nurse-Family Partnership at Family First Health

August is National Breastfeeding Month, 2023

The breastfeeding journey should begin during pregnancy.

Expectant moms can and should prepare for breastfeeding before giving birth. There is much to learn and understand about the first few days and months postpartum. At Family First Health, we have the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) Program which supports moms to have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby by partnering the mom with a personal registered nurse. This nurse offers support advice, and information in many areas and is available to the mom until the baby turns two years old.

Most nurses in the NFP program have undergone a certified lactation counselor training certificate which means they can support moms prenatally with education and then postpartum through feeding assessments and skilled hands-on assessments. We also have two International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) on staff who can help with complicated cases. There can be many barriers to a mom’s success with breastfeeding and we’ve found that educating the mom on those topics before they deliver increases the number of moms who choose to breastfeed and the length of how long they continue that breastfeeding journey.

Supply and demand

The first hours and days of a baby’s life are crucial to a mom’s milk supply. Early, frequent skin-to-skin can impact breastfeeding and how often the baby eats can also influence it. The frequency of feedings in those first few weeks determines milk supply months down the road. Some will misinterpret the baby’s cluster feedings and assume the baby isn’t getting enough milk during feeding sessions. Sometimes, this results in parents offering a bottle of formula instead of continuing with frequent feedings. If mothers are educated and know what is normal, they are prepared when the time comes.

Milk myths

Did you know milk supply can be influenced by the mother’s calorie intake or stress level? That moms burn up to 500 calories per day as their body creates milk? Or that a baby’s latch is not supposed to be painful?

Lactation consultants and IBCLCs can help moms navigate these topics. Many moms are seen by a lactation consultant while in the hospital, but ongoing education and support are invaluable. While breastfeeding has a longstanding place in history – it isn’t always easy and that is why support exists.

Community resources for all parents

Even if you’re not part of the NFP program, which requires a woman to be less than 28 weeks pregnant with her first child and meet income requirements, resources like WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and private or public lactation consultants are available. Breastfeeding education classes, both online and in person, also offer valuable insights for expectant mothers. I encourage every parent to bring up the topic of breastfeeding early and often to their doctor during prenatal visits. Ask for educational materials, support or online classes the physician may recommend.

Education Is empowerment

If a parent chooses to breastfeed, they should have every resource available to support that experience. It is critical that they understand the changes in their body and how to help meet the needs of the baby. We are working at Family First Health’s Nurse-Family Partnership to bridge the knowledge gap and make breastfeeding a rewarding journey for every parent and every baby, but if someone is not in our program or in our service area, we want them to know they, too, can find resources to support them.

So, if you’re newly pregnant and seeking a nurturing community, consider these incredible avenues for guidance and care and know that Family First Health’s NFP community stands ready to uplift and empower you every step of the way.

Family First Health Gettysburg Center is located in the Marshall’s Plaza (formerly Peebles Plaza) in Gettysburg. The health center was launched in 2009 following a community needs study and initiation by Healthy Adams County.  Phone (717) 337-9400