Over 250 directors of school clinics and health educators came together from October 2nd to 4th to celebrate their important role in President Clinton’s health care reform plan. This gathering, hosted by the Center for Population Options, emphasized the growing acceptance of school clinics as a mainstream component of healthcare.
Since the first school-based clinic opened in Dallas in 1970, opposition to the provision of family-planning services on school grounds has persisted. However, despite this opposition, school clinics have gained acceptance and support from various national medical organizations. Factors such as changing federal priorities, funding from private foundations, and the rise in issues like teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and AIDS, have all contributed to the increasing importance of school clinics in adolescent health care. Industry experts believe that if the President’s adolescent-health initiatives are approved by Congress, approximately 16,000 new clinics will open within the next two years.
Although most conference attendees expressed concerns about adapting to the new health care system, they recognized the need for retraining nurses and providing technical assistance to schools in order to navigate the proposed changes. To further advance their mission, advocates for school clinics have started producing studies to demonstrate to federal and local policymakers the significance of these clinics in improving students’ access to healthcare. One such study conducted in Dover, Delaware interviewed 1,571 students in three local high schools about their access to healthcare and health insurance, as well as their expectations from school clinics. Additionally, 448 parents were interviewed to gauge their access to healthcare and the availability of social services in their community. The findings revealed that those students who needed the services the most were able to receive the necessary care. Approximately 24% of students using the school clinic reported it as their primary source of care, while around 10% stated that they would have nowhere else to go for medical attention if the clinic did not exist. Furthermore, over one-third of parents expressed concerns about limited medical resources for teenagers in their community.
Another study presented at the gathering addressed the controversial issue of condom availability in schools. Despite three states prohibiting the distribution of condoms on school property, the number of schools providing condoms has significantly increased over the years, reaching 350 schools today, according to the C.P.O. In one particular program in Commerce City, Colorado, faculty advisors distribute condoms and materials for AIDS prevention to students. The study conducted in Adams City High School demonstrated that the prevalence of sexual activity among students was similar to other Colorado schools that do not distribute condoms. The availability of contraceptives did not lead to an increase in sexual activity among 14 to 19-year-olds. According to Dr. Larry Wolk, the medical director of community health services in Commerce City, the benefits of the program outweigh the risks by 3 to 1. He compared the program to avoiding lung cancer by not smoking, as it protects sexually active students from HIV and unintended pregnancies. School-clinic officials hope that this research will refute the notion that condom distribution encourages sexual promiscuity.
