DATE: 6-8:30 p.m. May 19, 2006.

EVENT: University of Michigan Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools 10-year anniversary celebration.

This event will celebrate 10 years of providing physical and mental health services to children within the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti public schools through a system of school-based health centers.

U.S. Rep. John Dingell will discuss his national perspective on children’s health, while Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom and State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith will comment on children’s health from the state’s perspective.

The mayor of Ypsilanti, Cheryl Farmer, will offer a mayoral proclamation. Other speakers include students and parents who have personally received and benefited from RAHS services, as well as East Middle School Principal Jan Sturdivant, and RAHS directors from the University of Michigan. Kyra, an on-air personality from Detroit’s channel 95.5 FM, will serve as emcee for the evening.

The goal of RAHS is to offer medical evaluation and treatment, individual/family counseling, disease prevention, health education and treatment, and advocacy for students and families within the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti communities.” School-based health programs are uniquely able to reach children who may be uninsured or underinsured in a place where they are every day” at school,” said Jennifer Salerno, a nurse practitioner who serves as RAHS director.

This type of school-based service provision has been a growing trend to help fill the gaps in physical and emotional care for children throughout the nation. More than 1,500 school based health centers exist nationally, serving over 1 million children each year, according to National Assembly for School-Based Health Care.

RAHS centers are located inside of Scarlett Middle School and Stone High School in Ann Arbor, and East Middle School in Ypsilanti. Last year, RAHS centers provided services to more than 900 students, including 539 immunizations, 2,281 medical visits, 2,170 counseling visits, and 942 referrals to community agencies for additional support. These centers also offer comprehensive programs that address substance abuse, asthma and nutrition/obesity.

PLACE: Concourse Area and Hussey Room, Michigan League, 911 N. University, on U-M’s central campus

REGISTRATION: This event is by invitation only” invitees include RAHS advisory council members, staff, U-M Health System administrators, U-M School of Nursing administration, government officials, youth advisory council members, and representatives from community agencies. Reporters who would like to attend are asked to contact Jennifer Salerno at (734) 677-2708 or jsalerno@med.umich.edu

CONTACT: Elizabeth Fraker, (517) 424-7724 or (734) 678-5654, ecollins@umich.edu

SPONSORS. Support for RAHS centers is provided by the University of Michigan Health System and School of Nursing, The Michigan Department of Education and Community Health, U-M Department of Family Medicine & Pediatrics, and numerous surrounding community agencies, in collaboration with the Ypsilanti Public Schools and Ann Arbor Public Schools. These centers also receive federal support through Medicaid matching funds.

Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools