Issue

Access to health care is a challenge for many of the students attending Maine East High School. The school has a very culturally diverse student body: 45% of the students were born outside of the United States and 69% come from homes where English is not the primary language. Understanding that students must be well to do well, the school was committed to working with local health care partners to provide on-site access to needed care.

Millennia’s Approach

Millennia worked with the principal, school nurse, outside medical providers, and other key stakeholders to create and implement a plan for the health center. Guided by Millennia, they reconfigured a basement space to resemble a physician’s office; developed policies and procedures for services; conducted outreach in the school and community; hired staff; assembled an Advisory Board; and successfully opened the center.

Client Benefit

The Maine East School-Based Health Center (MESBHC) was established in 2003, as a partnership between Maine Township High School District 207 and Advocate Medical Group, in affiliation with Lutheran General Hospital. Since its inception, the MESBHC has enrolled 1,897 students and the staff has provided over 2,781 patient encounters.

The Main East case study is an example of Millennia's Organizational Development and Planning and Program Design services