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ZEBULON - A School-Based Health Center has been proposed in Pike County in partnership with the Emory University Department of Pediatrics Urban Health Program, the Pike County School System, and Pike County's YES Team, Inc. The YES Team is taking the lead in assessing and planning for this School-Based Health Center over the next ten months. Edd Sanders brought this idea before the Pike County Board of Commissioners at the November 29, 2011 meeting.
The YES Team is leading this process by bringing together potential partners in meetings, focus groups, etc. and developing plans to expand community support, conducting a needs assessment, and creating a business plan for this Health Center.
According to the press release, this proposed facility would provide quality, comprehensive health care services located in or near the Pike County Primary School facility and would be open during school hours. It would be staffed with qualified health care professionals and would be "focused on the prevention, early identification, and treatment of medical and behavioral concerns that can interfere with a student's learning."
Some of the needs for this proposed Health Center are based on decreasing absenteeism and tardiness, increasing school attendance, increasing GPA over time, increasing access to health care, eliminating the need for parents to take time off from work.
The public is invited to attend the School Based Health Center Lunch and Learn with Dr. Veda Johnson, Director of the Emory University Department of Pediatrics Urban Health Program on December 15, 2011 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the Professional Learning Center Meeting Room #2 located in the old Pike County Middle/High School next to Ruth's Restaurant in order to find out more information on this program. The program is presented by the Pike Community Resource Network which is part of the Georgia Family Connection statewide network of county collaboratives committed to cultivating public and private collaboration at a local level. RSVP by December 12, 2011 to Michael Powell at 770-567-2930 or powellm@pike.k12.ga.us.
To read a copy of the information that was passed out to commissioners at the meeting, click here.