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M artin L uther K ing J r .
2021 special edition
Mississippi
Alberta
North Portland
January 13, 2021
Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
Multnomah County and the Reynolds School District open a new Student Health Center at Reynolds High School.
Health Center Opens at Reynolds High
Brings basic health
services to students
A new Student Health Center at
Reynolds High School opened with the
New Year, culminating a long-await-
ed effort to bring much-needed,
high-quality primary care and mental
health services to families that are eas-
ily accessible and affordable.
The opening was an important step
in addressing health care inequities for
youth in the Reynolds School District,
officials said.
“At a time when health is our high-
est concern, we look forward to the
opening of this Student Health Center
to help take care of our children and
youth,” Dr. Danna Diaz, Reynolds
School District superintendent, said in
a news release. “We are thrilled to part-
ner with Multnomah County to bring
a Student Health Center to Reynolds
High School. We know that if our stu-
dents are healthy, they can better focus
on learning.”
The Reynolds district is home to the
largest number of Medicaid-insured
youth in Multnomah County, officials
said. It is also home to the greatest con-
centration of youth ages 11-19 without
insurance and access to basic health
services, such as annual exams and
mental health counseling, according
to a 2017 report commissioned by the
county and a similar report by Health
Share of Oregon and the State Adoles-
cent and Student Health unit.
“I am so proud of this partnership
that in the middle of the COVID-19
pandemic, the Health Department
worked with this school community,
our partners and the larger commu-
nity to open this health center,’’ said
Multnomah County Chair Deborah
Kafoury. “Our kids have lost so much
and have had to adapt to so much,
this new Student Health Center will
not only provide excellent physical
health care, but a safe space where
students can talk about their experi-
ence with a professional, in-person or
virtually.”
The new 2,493-square-foot health
center includes four exam rooms, den-
tal hygiene services, mental health
counseling and a lab. Staff will pro-
vide comprehensive preventative, pri-
mary, dental and mental health care
for children and youth ages 5-18. And
while the new center is geared primar-
ily toward school-age youth living in
Reynolds School District, any child or
youth living in Multnomah County can
receive services.
“This health center will allow stu-
dents in Reynolds School District and
all school-aged students in Multnomah
County to access basic health services
such as immunizations, lab tests, coun-
seling, and annual exams,” says Alex-
andra Lowell, Student Health Center
Program Manager. “Our focus on ac-
cess — by being located in schools
— and the fact that there is no out-of-
pocket cost, make us a great health care
option for families, whether or not they
have a primary care provider.”
The Student Health Center at Reyn-
olds High School will operate five days
a week, offering in-person, phone and
video visits. (Thursdays offer virtual
appointments only). The center serves
students with or without insurance and
can help families check if they qualify
for the Oregon Health Plan or other in-
surance.