Health professionals from around New York State gathered for a conference addressing the healthcare needs of school-aged children and best practices for school-based health treatment and prevention March 17 and 18 in Cooperstown. There were over 110 participants.
Dr. Tommy Ibrahim said the importance of providing high-quality healthcare in schools cannot be overstated. The health of communities begins with young people.
Bassett’s School-Based Health program is the largest rural school-based health program in New York, and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. The program includes 21 sites in 17 school districts across four counties and continues to grow. In Delaware County, Bassett operates school-based health centers at Delaware Academy elementary and middle/high schools, and Sidney, South Kortright and Stamford Central Schools. The school-based health center at Delaware Academy was the first location in the program, which opened 30 years ago.
More than 7,000 children are enrolled across the system. The program ensures easy access within schools to high-quality healthcare – including medical, dental, and mental health services – for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. School-based health program services are available to all students regardless of income.
