ChristianaCare has opened a new school-based health center at Kuumba Academy Charter School in Wilmington for students to have increased access to an array of health services. The health center was sponsored through ChristianaCare’s partnership with the Community Education Building (CEB), which houses Kuumba Academy. “At ChristianaCare, we recognize the comprehensive health needs of adolescents in our community and are committed to partnering and using our resources wisely and effectively to expand our school-based health centers,” Bettina Tweardy Riveros, J.D., chief health equity officer and senior vice president of Government Affairs and Community Engagement at ChristianaCare, said in a statement. “We know that childhood trauma adversely affects the ability of children to learn and build healthy relationships and it increases their risk of mental health issues and lifelong chronic disease. The opening of our school-based health center at Kuumba Academy means that ChristianaCare can support medical and behavioral health services and wraparound social care our children need, so we can positively influence their health, their education and their futures.” With the latest opening, ChristianaCare now operates 21 school-based health centers throughout the First State, in partnership with the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, the Delaware Division of Public Health and several school districts. Kuumba Academy students will have access through its school-based health center to the following:

• Comprehensive behavioral health services.
• Crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
• Substance use disorder treatment.
• Tobacco cessation.
• Nutrition and weight management.
• Physical examinations.
• Health screenings.
• Treatment for minor illnesses and injuries.
• Reproductive health.

In addition, Kuumba Academy students also will have access to resources that help their families surmount obstacles such as transportation, challenging appointment times, and worries about cost and confidentiality. “Kuumba Academy remains committed to meeting the needs of the whole child and family,” Sally Maldonado, head of school at Kuumba Academy, said in a statement. “The opening of this school-based health center means that our students and families will have daily access to the high-quality behavior and health services that they deserve, and we are grateful to ChristianaCare and CEB for their partnership. We are beginning to see ourselves on the other side of this pandemic and we are energized to emerge with these newfound partnerships focused on health and wellness for our village.” [caption id="attachment_222939" align="aligncenter" width="897"] Representatives from Kuumba Academy Charter School, ChristianaCare and the Community Education Building cut the ribbon on the school-based health center inside Kuumba Academy. | PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIANACARE[/caption]