5 school health clinics in Brooklyn saved for one more year

After 10 days of determined advocacy from parents, nurses, school administrators and elected officials, SUNY Downstate reversed its decision to close five School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) serving more than 4,000 students in Brooklyn when school opens in September.

Despite a looming cut in state funding, last week Downstate informed the principals at the schools located in Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and East New York that it will not be making any changes to its school based programs as it begins the academic year. Downstate made no commitment to keep the clinics open after the end of next year, however.

To read the full story, visit https://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/8/14/5-school-health-clinics-brooklyn-saved-one-more-year

I am so happy and relieved to learn that SUNY Downstate will be able to keep its School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) open! Our SBHCs provide comprehensive healthcare to thousands of children every year and the benefits cannot be touted enough. Happier, healthier children have better attendance, perform better academically and grow up to be healthy adults. Today we are celebrating but the long-term viability of our SBHCs is still at risk. This is not a fight we can afford to lose, especially with attacks on our healthcare from the federal level. Investing in our children’s health needs to be a priority every single year, not something that is subject to the whims of Albany politics" said Senator Velmanette Montgomery.