School-Based Health Care Group Visits T.C. Teen Center

T.C. Williams High School hosted the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care at an event last week highlighting the high school's Teen Wellness Center.

The center was opened in August 2010, after moving from its location in a trailer behind the Minnie Howard campus.

Alexandria Superintendent of Schools Morton Sherman spoke at the event, saying he believes teen health is a vital issue, whether it be mental, physical, or for maintenance.

Sherman discussed his own family's struggle when one of his three daughters suffered from severe depression and tried to commit suicide. "We came to an agreement that we needed to speak out...There are so many other Rachels who need these people" who care for them.

T.C. Williams student Brianna Tarbush said she appreciates the wellness center and has visited a few times because of its respect for patient privacy and because of its location at the campus, she hasn't had to miss school to see a doctor.

She said it helps having a doctor on site who is trustworthy and to have "someone to talk to about things that might make parents mad."

Bob Wolverton, staff doctor at the center, said he provides services from immunizations, sports physicals and has been able to help young athletes with alcohol problems and students with eating disorders and obesity. The center also offers reproductive counseling.

T.C. has more than 3,000 students and about 600 of them have been to the clinic for services since September.

There are about 2,000 school-based health centers across the nation and more than 50 percent of them have been open 10 years or more, according to NASBHC.