Such integration is important, she believes, since it can signal a student's problem before it erupts into a crisis. At Centennial High School, peer counselors play an important role with fellow students, says Dugan. A student accessing the health center will receive one on one counseling with a trained peer counselor before meeting with Dugan. The two review the student's life activities and discuss issues including sexual activity, smoking, drinking and other potentially dangerous behaviors. The student then meets with Dugan and later has a follow-up meeting with the peer counselor.
Students arrive at the school very needy.
The neediness is a result of issues such as sexual abuse, parental issues, and a sense of abandonment. Bill Lamperes Increased Need for Flexibility Many of the issues that land students in an alternative school surface during health center visits, says Naughton. While a student may come into the center complaining of a sore throat, he could also have a serious drug issue that needs attention, and may not even have a place to stay that night, she notes. As a result, the alternative school kids require more time, and the health center staff must plan ahead for this while making appointments, says Naughton. Flexibility in scheduling plays a key role with health professionals working in the centers because alternative schools also often have high drop-out and low attendance rates.