Welcome to the DC Assembly on School Health Care
The DC Assembly on School Health Care (DC Assembly) is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to providing quality and accessible health care for children and adolescents in the District of Columbia. The DC Assembly was founded to provide coordinated efforts to increase the availability of health care for at-risk and medically underserved populations through partnerships involving schools and health care providers. 

IMPORTANT  UPDATE:  LETTER FROM THE DCASBHC PRESIDENT

March 2010

Dear Friends,

The DC Assembly on School Health Care has been a vocal, visible and effective local advocate for school health in Washington, DC for the past 6 years.  It is with deep regret that I inform you that as of March 31, 2010, the DC Assembly will be significantly scaling back and will become an all-volunteer organization.  We will continue to monitor school health issues but will no longer have paid staff dedicated to this.  This decision was not entered into lightly or without careful consideration, but the Board thought that this was the best and necessary course of action given the current economic climate.

The DC Assembly has been successful in advancing the discussions and issues pertaining to school health in DC, particularly with respect to school health centers.  We are optimistic that the momentum for school health programming and services will continue to move these objectives forward.  We are thankful and grateful to those who have partnered with and/or supported us in our efforts to dispense prescription medications in the school health centers, expand the network of school health centers in DC, secure Medicaid reimbursement for the centers, promote school health as a vital component of our youth’s school experience, and many other noteworthy efforts and accomplishments. 

In order to keep the discussions of school health front and center, we will organize and lead a volunteer school health work group.  Our current Executive Director, Jennifer Leonard, will lead this work group on a volunteer basis.  If you are interested in being part of this work group, or learning more about it, please contact Jennifer at JLeonard@dcasbhc.org.  In addition, we will continue to update our website regularly, so feel free to look for school health-related information at www.dcasbhc.org. 

Last not but not least, please let me use this opportunity to commend and thank all of those who work in the field of school health, particularly in the school health centers.  They do such important and wonderful work to support our youth.  We hope and trust that you will continue to support their tremendous efforts.

With much thanks,

Mark Minier, MD

President

The Healthy Schools Act
The latest version of the Healthy Schools Act can be found by clicking here.  The bill covers both DC Public and Charters schools and addresses the high rates of adolescent obesity and supports long term health and well-being of the District's adolescents.

DC PLANS TO ADD THREE MORE SCHOOL HEALTH CENTERS

On December 8, 2009, DC City Council representatives Mary Cheh and Vincent Gray co-introduced the Healthy Schools Act of 2009.  The Bill contains a provision requiring DCPS, DOH and OPEFM to develop a plan to build and operate school health centers in all DCPS comprehensive high schools.

The purpose of the RFA: "The Government of the District of Columbia, Department of Health (DOH), is soliciting applications from qualified not-for-profit organizations located and licensed to conduct business within the District of Columbia to improve access to care for high school students by operating new school-based health centers. The overall goal is to help address the primary and urgent care needs of students in the schools that will house the school-based health centers. This includes assuring appropriate confidentiality and coordination of care, making referrals for specialty care, and serving as a model medical home."  

VIDEO VIRTUAL TOUR

The DC Assembly premiered our video virtual tour of the Woodson Adolescent Wellness Center at a September 23rd "Breakfast Briefing" for the DC City Councilmembers and their staff at the Wilson Building.  Speakers included Councilmember Tommy Wells; Dr. Anisha Abraham, the medical director at the Woodson Adolescent Wellness Center; Martha Blackford, a Woodson SHS student, and Darlene Williams, an active Woodson SHS parent.  Thank you to all who were able to attend.

Please view our video virtual tour! www.youtube.com/watch