SBHC Spotlight: Wicomico Middle School Wellness Center

The Wicomico Middle School Wellness Center has operated on the grounds of Wicomico Middle School since 2001. The Wellness Center is sponsored by Wicomico County Health Department in collaboration with Wicomico County Public Schools, providing enrolled students with primary health care including: treatment of acute illnesses and injury, management of chronic illness, immunizations, physical exams, adolescent risk assessments, vision screening, and preventative health services. Behavioral health services include individual and family counseling, addiction counseling and referral, and preventative mental health counseling.

The Wellness Center nurse and nurse practitioners work individually with students regarding obesity prevention interventions. An after-school program provides students with an opportunity to participate in additional physical activity, eat a healthy snack & participate in an interactive "Healthier You" lesson. Additional health education lessons are offered in "Lunch & Learn" format allowing students to eat lunch in the Wellness Center and participate in a health education activity. New for this school year, Wicomico County Health Department's Dental Clinic will be providing initial dental services to students enrolled in the Wellness Center.

2015 ADVOCACY DAY

The Annual Maryland Assembly on School Based Health Care Advocacy Event will take place on Monday Evening, February 9th from 4:30 pm to 8 pm in Annapolis. Click here to register.

We are anticipating another busy and exciting year for MASBHC's advocacy efforts. In addition to having the opportunity to tell our legislators about the great work going on in school-based health centers in Maryland, we can also encourage them to support a bill that we anticipate will be introduced by Delegate Bonnie Cullison and Senator Rich Madaleno from Montgomery County.

MASBHC along with Public Policy Partners will be hosting a webinar before our February 9th Advocacy Day to talk about the pending legislation, review/refresh everyone on what to expect when you visit Annapolis and your elected official's offices and share tips on what to say and how to get around. The date and time will be sent out to all folks registered to attend Advocacy Day. Please take a moment and complete our brief survey regarding the webinar.

MASBHC 2015 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

MASBHC's 2015 Annual Conference will be held on Tuesday May 19th, 2015 at The Gathering Place, located in Clarksville, Maryland. This year's conference theme is, Leading the Way for School-Based Health Care in Maryland. We are excited to welcome John Schlitt, President of the School-Based Health Alliance, as our Keynote Speaker. Early Bird Registration will open in later this month. For more information and for updates on the conference agenda and registration visit our

website.

Request Healthy Theater Performances for Free!!

Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre Programs (ETP) present live theatrical performances- free of charge- to educate and inspire children on healthy lifestyles. ETP began in 1984 to inspire children, teens and adults to make informed decisions about their health and to build stronger, healthier communities. Performances are available free of charge to schools, non-profit organizations, and community groups in the Greater Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, including Baltimore City, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

Educational Theatre's innovative, award winning health-promotion performances use the engaging medium of live theatre to share age-appropriate, up-to-date facts that are necessary for making healthier life-choices. ETP has a variety of performances that cater to all different ages.

Visit the Educational Theater Program website for more information. If you have questions or comments about any of Kaiser's ETP programs, or would like to schedule a performance, please feel free to contact the ETP Programs Coordinator at (301) 902-1215 or info@etpmidatlantic.org.

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