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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 21, 2005 Volunteers help move equipment into the expanded Kids Health Connection clinic Tuesday at Jackson Elementary School. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Kids get room to grow Jackson Elementary School clinic expands to better serve health needs of students By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Space was cramped at the tiny clinic that provides medical and mental health services to indigent children at Jackson Elementary School. On weekdays, children and their families flocked to the clinic, hidden away in the old school’s basement. "We were turning away kids every day," said Karen Holt, administrative director for the grassroots agency that operates the clinic. The demand for medical services at the school recently prompted the Kids Health Connection operations council to build a new clinic. Slated to open when classes resume Jan. 3, the nearly 1,700-square-foot clinic more than quadruples the size of the previous space. Advertisement "The clinic is not going to feel like a tin can anymore," said Debbie Wilson, program development coordinator. "It will be more open and inviting." Volunteers, school personnel and staff members with Kids Health Connection moved boxes, furniture and medical equipment Tuesday to the new clinic on the south side of the school. "The kids here need a good start in life, and health is one of the biggies," volunteer John Sawyer said as he went back for another load. Jackson Elementary School has the highest percentage of indigent students in Jackson County, Holt said. Eighty-nine percent come from families at or below poverty level. Thirty percent are considered homeless, and 50 percent lack health insurance. "Jackson Elementary was the highest-need school and had the smallest space," Holt said. In view of the playground, the new clinic includes three exam rooms, a nursing station, a laboratory, a conference room, three offices and a reception and waiting room. The extra space will allow the agency to serve more students, Holt said. Local companies and organizations donated $267,000 to build the clinic, she said. Serving about 300 children per year, the clinic offers services to any elementary student in the Medford and Phoenix- Talent school districts. Cost is determined using a sliding fee scale based on the family’s income. "Without our services, most likely these students would obtain no health care or would go to the emergency room," Holt said. The agency, a partnership between Asante Health System, Providence Medford Medical Center and Clinica del Valle, also operates three other clinics at Oak Grove, Washington and Phoenix elementary schools. How to Help Kids Health Connection is seeking volunteers. For details, call 842-3113. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail Kids get room to grow ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Advertisement s