Schools
Peabody Students Participate In Statehouse Rally
The students shared experiences they had with the school-based health center.
PEABODY, MA - From Massachusetts School Based Health Alliance: 20 students from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School Youth Advisory Council arrived in Boston on Wednesday March 20, 2019 to meet with their legislators and share how their school-based health center has impacted their life. The trip was led by Allison Kilcoyne, Carol Champigny, Laura Mayer, Barbara Maia and Anna Berrian all staff at the PVMHS Student Health Center. The Student Health Center was dedicated to former State Senator Frederick Berry in 2015.
“Students sharing the impact that school based health centers have on their lives is powerful, for both the students and our legislators”, said Allison Kilcoyne Family Nurse Practitioner and President of the Massachusetts School-Based Health Alliance. “We are so thankful to our host Legislators, Senator Joan Lovely, Representative Tom Walsh and Representative Ted Speliotis for their tremendous support in making this day possible.”
Over 50 student and 70 adult supporters arrived in Boston on Wednesday March 20th from across Massachusetts and as far away as New Bedford and Winchendon. Students and staff streamed into Nurses Hall to hear from advocates, students, health care professionals and legislators on the importance of school-based health care before fanning out to find their own legislator.
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The model of school-based health care allows for students (K-12) to receive a flu shot, have an annual physical, have their teeth examined and their eyes checked, or speak to a mental health provider in a safe, nurturing place. Students can seek help with stresses or illness at any time during the school day with the health clinics located conveniently within schools; they often serve as the first access point for health care for a student.
The Massachusetts School-Based Health Alliance (MASBHA) was established in 2018 and is an all-volunteer 501c3 not-for-profit organization that is the official state affiliate of the national School-Based Health Alliance. Our mission is to promote the health, resilience, and academic success of children and adolescents in collaboration with community partners committed to advocating for student well-being through school-based health centers. Currently in
Massachusetts, there are 55 school-based health centers.
