SEATTLE — The Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) has been a staple in the Seattle area for more than 50 years. In addition to on-site services at its clinic, OBCC also provides medical and behavioral health services at several public schools.
“OBCC likes to take care into the community oftentimes,” said Nisreen El-Saadoun, school-based health program manager. “School-based health is such an important model because that’s where kids are spending most of their day, in school. It’s beyond convenience. It’s really about access.”
OBCC has four school-based health sites at Garfield High School, Beacon Hill International, Lowell Elementary and Leschi Elementary. These school-based centers provide healthcare, nutrition programs and educational sessions for youth and caregivers throughout the school year.
“We know that a lot of these families may not have dedicated, established primary care or a dental home,” El-Saadoun said. “This is one way of increasing access to those important services for these families.”
OBCC has been at Garfield High School for about 30 years and provides teens with routine primary care, sports physicals, acute illness management, healthy weight and nutrition support and more. The behavioral health team also supports students with counseling and therapy, including during incidents of gun violence.
“We continue to have conversations with the school on how to best show up and support,” El-Saadoun said.
OBCC aims to bring quality healthcare with dignity to children from birth to young adulthood, regardless of their family’s ability to pay. By investing in school-based healthcare, OBCC is reducing barriers to access, decreasing time away from school and achieving better outcomes.
“Community contributions help significantly with furthering that mission and vision and allowing that drive to flourish,” El-Saadoun said.
To support this important work, visit the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic website to learn more and give today.
Sponsored by Odessa Brown Children's Clinic
Segment Producer Rebecca Perry. Watch New Day Northwest 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.