Child Watch

Oakland School Children to Receive Essential Health Care

Exciting news… October saw the grand opening of the new Frick Middle School health center in Oakland led by the East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC) in partnership with the Native American Health Center, Alameda County Health Care Services, and Oakland Unified School District.

The school based health center provides essential youth development, mental health and medical services free of charge to all Frick students, expertly tailored to the cultural, linguistic and socio-economic needs of the students and their families. One of the primary aims will be to improve students’ academic achievement by taking care of the mental and physical health needs that can make learning difficult.

Research carried out with the students, their parents and Frick Middle School staff found:

47% of students reported a need for mental health counseling. EBAC’s Prevention and Life Skills program meets some of that need and our Circle of Care program will provide essential grief and bereavement counseling, a critical tool in supporting the school community, who are frequently exposed to violence and crime.

Almost 50% of the students experienced barriers when seeking medical care due to lack of transportation, no doctor and/or cost of care.

72% of parents able to provide some form of health service for their children do so through government assisted health insurance.

87% of students are enrolled in free or reduced price meal programs, an indication of the low socio-economic status of many Frick students and their families.

“Research clearly shows that school based health centers work and the opening of the Frick Middle School Health Center will enable us to give the students and their families the help they need to flourish in a community that faces many challenges,” said Steve Eckert, Executive Director, EBAC.