New Clinic Brings In-School Health Care to Students

 By Sean FrauleySpecial to the AdvocateStudents in Grades 7 and 8, along with their siblings, can now have their medical conditions monitored, receive check ups and be treated for other ailments without leaving school at the new Brookview Middle School Paediatric Clinic.The Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) and the Black Creek Community Health Centre celebrated the launch of the new clinic at Brookview Middle School, which can now be accessed by more than 8,000 TDSB students in the Jane/Finch community.The Brookview clinic is the third clinic to open under the Model Schools Paediatric Health Initiative, which aims to make health care more accessible for children by establishing clinics in local schools.“This latest clinic at Brookview continues our commitment to bring care to students in the place they frequent and trust most – their local school,” said Dr. Chris Spence, Director of Education for the TDSB. “Breaking down barriers to student achievement, clinics such as Brookview are giving students the support they need to be healthy, happy and successful, both in school, and in life.”The clinic is open two half days per week during the school year. A nurse practitioner, physicians and a pediatrician, along with a multilingual International Medical Graduate will work as a team at Brookview helping families navigate language, cultural, financial and other barriers that often prevent students from accessing medical care.“It just makes sense to bring the care to the children instead of bringing the children to care,” said Catherine Parsonage, Executive Director & CEO, Toronto Foundation for Student Success, “and the TFSS is pleased to support this initiative.”