ADOLESCENT HEALTH INITIATIVE (AHI)

Issue Area: Health Care Access

In a coordinated effort to support youth as they endeavor to overcome the health-related obstacles that hinder success in regular school settings, in 2003, Vesper Society launched the Adolescent Health Initiative. The project, which provides direct counseling and therapy services to students attending Hayward Community School, is a collaboration between the Society, Alameda County Office of Education/Hayward Community School, St. Rose Hospital’s Silva Pediatric Clinic, and Tiburcio Vásquez Health Center, Inc. The Adolescent Health Initiative represents the first effort to provide comprehensive mental health and case management services to an adolescent population in Hayward, California, the state’s sixth largest city.

The services delivered by dedicated staff at Silva Pediatric Clinic and Tiburcio Vásquez Health Center are comprehensive, culturally-sensitive mental health services, case management, direct health screening, treatment, and counseling. In order to insure regular communication and effective coordination, clinic staff work in close partnership with Hayward Community School teachers and administrators.

Adolescence is a crucial and challenging time in the physical, mental, emotional, and social lives of young people. While the Adolescent Health Initiative was created to help youth meet their basic physical and mental health needs, we know that they are best served by being surrounded by healthy adults. Therefore, the project also offers basic assistance to parents and guardians requiring help to address their own mental health needs.

In 2009, the Adolescent Health Initiative provided over 600 hours of individual counseling, approximately 100 hours of case coordination, and 200 hours of health coverage access coordination as well as referrals for individuals and families to available healthcare coverage.

For additional information, contact .

January 2010