EC Brown

Spring has proven to be a busy time for SBHCs as they bring this school-year to a close and begin looking ahead to next year’s priorities, programs, and projects. Here at the Oregon School-Based Health Alliance, we’ve been finalizing project plans with next year’s new round of CORE grantees (keep your eyes open for a 2014-2015 CORE recipient announcement soon!). 

Over the years, OSBHA has learned many invaluable lessons about how to build collaborative relationships with school administrators, teachers, SBHC staff, and adolescents. We were very excited to see helpful guidelines and recommendations for SBHCs interested in working closely with policymakers, school administrators, teachers, and other school staff to improve student health and well-being outlined in How Schools Work & How to Work with Schools recently released by the National Association of State Boards of Education. Some of the most relevant portions of this resource are listed below:

In a recent Op-Ed piece, Fyona Rose with Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon’s Youth Action Council confirmed the importance of “treating youth as valued members in our community” by integrating their voices into decisions made about health care and education.  The Oregon School-Based Health Alliance recognizes that young people make thoughtful choices about their health when they have access to high-quality health services that engage youth as partners in promoting adolescent health.

Did you know that Governor Kitzhaber has proclaimed that May is Youth Sexual Health Awareness Month? Check out the proclamation, exciting events, policy updates, and relevant resources below!

Governor's Proclamation

• Build environments in which all youth can thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
• Advance comprehensive strategies of the Oregon Youth Sexual Health Plan at the state and local level to: support youth as they use accurate information and well developed skills to make thoughtful choices about relationships and sexual health; eliminate sexual health inequities; and reduce unintended teen pregnancy, STIs, and non-consensual sexual behavior.
• Value young people and trust in their capacity to make healthy decisions when provided information, skills, and support.
• Recognize that positive youth development aligns with prevention priorities of healthcare transformation

School Health Fair

In the fall of 2013, THAT club distributed a school-wide survey to determine what health topics concerning healthy relationships and sexuality were of greatest interest to the student population. In total, 20 percent of the St. Helens High School population participated in the survey. THAT club used data collected from the evaluation to plan a school-wide health fair, “That’s Healthy,” to provide information focusing on safer sex, pregnancy, and healthy relationships.

The “That’s Healthy” health fair was presented in January 2014 with tables hosted by TransActive Gender Center, Support Advocacy Freedom Empowerment (SAFE) of Columbia County, and Legacy Health featuring topics such as LGBTQ health, healthy relationships, and HPV/STDs. THAT club also hosted a table concerning prenatal health.