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16 Community Health Center, Inc. health education. ere is also an awareness that health issues, undiagnosed or untreated, can be more prevalent or acute among those for whom insurance is elusive and medical appointments a struggle — even a hardship — to make. e mere fact that there does not need to be an appointment on another day in another place makes it much more likely that the child will receive continuing care. Par- ents, who must give their consent for their child to enroll and be seen in the SBHC, appreciate the fact that their child can be seen right at school. And that can make all the difference in the world. Mary Emerling, RN, MPA health supervisor for Middletown Public Schools, notes "the profound effect SBHCs can have on missed days of school for students and missed days of work for parents. Once enrolled, a student may be referred to the SBHC from the school nurse's office for further evaluation rather than sending them home or calling a parent in from work to take the student to a private or community provider." is can oen be the difference between receiving health care, or not. Detecting a potential problem sooner than later can make a sig- nificant difference, explains Jane Hylan, CHC's director of school- based care, now in her 14th school year. Not seeking treatment to deal with the ramifications of trauma, for example, can allow the issue to blossom, adversely impact learning, and creating even tougher challenges later. Miguel A. Cardona, assistant superintendent for teaching & learning in the Meriden Public Schools, explains that having CHC as a partner helps students develop long-term coping skills. "For many of these students, these skills are the difference be- tween making it in school or having ongoing troubles." When CHC's services launch at a school, it is a high-touch rather than arms-length commitment, Hylan explains. Staff is in- volved in school committees on issues such as chronic absentee- ism. Involvement is not an extension of the CHC mission in the schools, Hylan says, but an integral aspect. By being on site, notes Hylan, relationships are built, and nur- tured, among students, teachers, administrators and health care professionals. Leah Lucarelli, a school-based nurse practitioner with Community Health Center in Middletown, recently pro- vided the state Legislature with an example. "I started seeing Alana when she was in kindergarten. She would miss multiple days of school and come to the school-based health center six to eight times each month with frequent ear and throat infections and asthma flares. She did not have health insur- ance so her parents would not take her to her pediatrician or local emergency room for fear of the medical bills." Insurance coverage was located, specialists at Connecticut Children's Medical Center were consulted, and necessary surgical procedures were accomplished. "e frequency of infection drastically diminished," Lucarelli continued. "She is now in 4th grade and has well-controlled asthma and has not been on antibiotics in over six months for an infection." Seeing such impacts up-close and personal makes for believers. "Community Health Center brings a global view with caring and skilled professionals who can bring services where they are most needed," said Emerling. "e relationship is profound. e entire community benefits." n » continued from page 15