CU Nursing - Fall/Winter 2019 - 27

COMMUNITY

of his students. "Having these services
- and having them so near our schools
- is just a godsend for our kids and their
families," Sandos said.

ACCESS PROVIDES EVEN HIDDEN BENEFITS
Alexis Barrere, MSN, PNP, a career-long
advocate of community health who leads
the youth clinic, said her program's benefits are multifaceted and sometimes
bigger than they may appear.

We're accessing kids
where they are, on their
turf, in their comfort
zone, so they are more
willing to come see us."
- Alexis Barrere, MSN

"Because of the sports physical, for example, there are 65 more kids from the
district participating in sports," Barrere
said. Athletics offer benefits in all aspects
of health, including physical, mental and
behavioral, she said.

INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE IN THEIR BACKYARD

In addition to building fitness, self-discipline and camaraderie, sports help
prevent risky behavior, Barrere said.
"Whenever you are involved in something extracurricular, you are less likely
to be off getting into trouble."

Providing healthcare within the communities and near the school grounds that
need it makes a difference, Barrere said.

The clinic's integrated healthcare team, combined with its providers' unique collaboration with nurses and social workers at the schools, results in high-quality
care for the students in the district, who often struggle with mental health and
social stressor issues, she said.

"We're accessing kids where they are, on their turf, in their comfort zone, so they
are more willing to come see us," she said.

With an early childhood center and
four schools in its district, the Sheridan
Health Services youth clinic serves patients from 0 to 22, treating everything
from dental issues to depression and
anxiety to asthma. The school district
has the highest homeless population in
the state.

"We can have a better understanding of what's happening at home and in school.
Especially with mental health concerns, that collaboration makes our care more
complete. We're not always having a missing piece of the puzzle."
Schools in the district include the Early Childhood Learning Center, Alice Terry
Elementary, Fort Logan Northgate 3-8, Sheridan High School and SOAR Academy.
Uninsured families pay on a salary-based sliding scale.

MAKING 'GREAT THINGS HAPPEN'

Families can also find services for all
members at a primary school based
health center and the family clinic.

The medical and behavior health providers often work together as a team with
patients. Just the other day, Barrere said, a young woman that she and Anna
Padgett Seigel, LCSW, have been working with for a year and half shared an
essay with them that she had written for a senior class project.

"Some of these kids would end up in the
emergency room for their health conditions, because they don't have a place
to go that is close to their home to get
asthma management or mental health
management," Barrere said.
The clinic also helps his students academically, Sandos said. "When you are
taking care of those base needs that
kids have - health needs, mental health
needs, safety and security - they are able
to focus where they need to focus."

"She talked about her self-exploration that she came to through counseling
and how thankful she is for the services because of where she is now." The
young woman plans to continue school and become a behavioral health
therapist for adolescents, Barrere said.

Alexis Barrere,
MSN, leads
the CU Youth
Health Clinic.

"That's a perfect example of what we do here and why it's so important. It's
definitely not overnight, but there are a lot of success stories."
Sandos said he has always been impressed with the care the clinic's staff
provides and that they obviously care about their patients. "I have a big sign
in our office that says 'kids first,' and I think that's their thought, too. So when
folks' thoughts are aligned like that, great things happen."

CU Nursing - Fall/Winter 2019

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