Using health promoters, as part of a school-based health center health promotion program, to gain access to underserved and hard-to-reach families

Providing access to health care for underserved and hard-to-reach populations can be a challenge in any setting. School-based health centers, by virtue of their location in the community have an opportunity to help link underserved, uninsured individuals with access to somatic health, mental health, oral health, and social services. However, not everyone in the school community is able, or willing, to participate in the school-based health center program for reasons that make this group of people “hard-to-reach” in the first place. Health promotion is an important part of the mission of school-based health centers. A program that trains community volunteers, parents, and their school-aged children to spread health information to family, friends, and neighbors on topics such as diabetes, obesity awareness and prevention, asthma, and emergency preparedness can also be a bridge to the health care system. As community members, health promoters have a unique perspective on the adults and children living in the community and easy entry into the homes of those who need services. The individuals and families who are the most hard-to-reach may be more receptive to a neighbor, to a family member, or to a friend when seeking access to care. The Linkages to Learning School-Based Health Center Multicultural Health Promoter Program currently is active in three school-based health centers in Montgomery County, Maryland with plans to grow with the expansion of school-based health centers in four additional schools in the next five years. The program's success can be seen in the number of encounters (1176) the health promoters had in the past school year from ten different program topics. Because they have been so successful with health promotion and education, we decided to use the health promoters to increase access to care and help increase enrollment at the school-based health centers during this school year. In FY06, 89% of students at the three elementary schools were enrolled in the school-based health center and able to access services. With the help of the health promoters this school year, we are close to reaching our goal of 95% enrollment. Empowering families to access care in three school communities in Montgomery County, Maryland not only helps the families, it becomes a tool for advocacy for school-based health centers and community-based clinics nationwide. Health promoters are an integral part of the success of school-based health centers and providing health care to underserved, uninsured, and hard-to-reach populations.