May 9, 2006
STATE REP. HENRY GENGA WELCOMES HOUSE SPEAKER TO HEALTH CENTER AT SILVER LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN EAST HARTFORD
State Representative Henry Genga (D-East Hartford) says it is an honor to have Speaker of the House James Amann visit the school-based health center at East Hartford’s Silver Lane Elementary School this Wednesday, May 10th at 10 a.m. to observe and discuss health services provided to students through school-based health centers. The Silver Lane Health Center is located at 15 Mercer Avenue, East Hartford, CT 06118. It is one of three school-based health centers in East Hartford. The others are located at the Middle and High Schools.
“East Hartford has been at the forefront in taking control of our students’ health needs,” said Rep. Genga. “The health centers have really answered the need from the community for additional health services.”
In conjunction with the working group, Healthy Kids Connecticut, Speaker Amann tours school-based health centers to see what health services are provided for children, how they are delivered, and how they might be improved.
“No issue goes to the heart of what a compassionate government stands for like the health of our children,” said Rep. Amann. "School-based health care goes a long way toward preventing future health problems, and save taxpayers big in the long term."
School-based health centers offer confidential physical and mental health services to students on site at the school. The current staff at each school-based health center includes a nurse practitioner, a medical assistant, and a social worker. In January 2000, Manchester Memorial Hospital’s (MMH) School-Based Health Center Program received a two-year grant in the amount of $25,000 from the Department of Public Health, making it possible for the program to add preventive dental care to its services.
"I know from some of my students the high value they place on the services received from the student based health center," said Rep. Genga, who teaches at East Hartford High School.
State Representative Henry Genga serves East Hartford’s 10th Assembly District. He is a member of the Education, Energy and Technology, Labor and Public Employees Committees.