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Local groups pitch in to save AHS health clinic By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings The future of the Ashland High School-based health clinic was uncertain - until now. The clinic's budget was slashed by 60 percent with the failure of Measure 28 in January, which resulted in $88 million in cuts to health and human services throughout the state. This blow threatened to close the clinic by the fall of 2003. However, school health officials say they managed to secure $81,000 or 90 percent of operating funds to keep the clinic open for students next year. For AHS Family Nurse Practitioner Judy Blickenstaff, this is great news. "I am so delighted," Blickenstaff said. "Not just personally, but because I feel the clinic provides such a valuable service." According to school health officials, 664 students visited the AHS clinic for a total of 1,251 appointments throughout the 2001-02 school year, the latest numbers available. This much-needed facility was saved through community support, Blickenstaff said. "I think it's very much a community effort. There have been a lot of people in a lot of organizations who have supported us," she said. The clinic secured $12,000 in funds from AHS, another $5,000 from student fees, $12,000 from the Oregon Health Plan, $1,000 from Trinity Episcopal Church, $1,000 from the Ashland Food Co-Op, $10,000 from the Ashland Schools Foundation, $25,000 from a Pacific Source Foundation grant, and potentially another $15,000 from Ashland Community Hospital. According to Carolyn Johnson, ACH community outreach coordinator, the ACH board will officially decide whether to donate to the clinic at its June 24 meeting. However, Johnson said the finance committee is recommending the move as it directly relates to ACH's mission and vision statement. "Our mission is to provide passionate, high-quality care," Johnson said. "The health of the children and youth in our community is a priority for the hospital." Johnson added the hospital contacted presidents of the local service clubs to see if funding the clinic could potentially become an interservice club project. A second meeting to discuss the proposal is planned for Friday. Blickenstaff said operating at 90 percent will make an impact on staffing hours. "At this point, we will be open 90 percent of our scheduled hours and if we get additional funding, we'll increase the hours," she said, adding the clinic will continue to operate during school hours. The AHS health center was one of 20 school-based clinics throughout the state slated to close due to the failure of Measure 28 - which sought to offset $310 million in potential reductions to state services by creating a three-year temporary tax increase. Locally, clinics at Crater High Scenic Middle School and Jewett Elementary in Central Point were marked for closure. However, Crater High principal Karyn Lynch said the high school's facility was able to secure funds and will continue to operate. Health centers at Scenic Middle and Jewett Elementary will not be open. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -