Eisenberg's new preteen wellness center: proactive care

Sex education and substance abuse prevention are the main focuses of most high school wellness centers. But at the new wellness center at Harry O. Eisenberg Elementary in New Castle, the goal is to set kids up for a better life.

This fall Eisenberg will be the first in the state to open a school-based wellness center for preteens and their families. Managed by Life Health Centers, kids will be able to get prescriptions for ear infections the same day or receive immunizations on-site so parents would not have to miss a shift at work.  The center will offer basic health care with no restrictions and Life Health Center will coordinate a behavioral health counselor and medical assistants as well as a nurse practitioner who can write prescriptions or diagnose illnesses.

"This is really about being proactive as opposed to reactive," said Dr. Dusty Blakey, superintendent of the Colonial School District, where all students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch.

"This is a chance for us to meet the needs of our community," Blakey said at a ribbon cutting for the center in mid-May. "What better place to have a wellness center than in an elementary school."

Families in the district who are strapped for money and time often have to choose whether to go to the doctor or work.

"That's a decision we don't think they have to make," Blakey said.

The construction project, which will cost $85,000 out of the Colonial School District's budget and include money for salaries, will begin over the summer. However, the school has been offering wellness services such as behavioral health consultations informally throughout the year. It's the hope that additional grants, in-kind donations and insurance co-pays will help cover expenses going forward.

Long-term plans include medical, dental and eye care to students and families living in the Colonial School District. Families without health coverage will get help applying for insurance and state officials hope that this program will spur other school districts to pilot the same.

Take Marshell Antoniolo's great-nephews, for instance.

A grandmother, her kids are grown-up and out of her New Castle home. But instead of easing into retirement, Antoniolo and her husband are caring for her great-nephews.

The boys, twins who are soon to be 8 years old, have a troubled past, rife with abuse. When they were living with their parents, they barely left the house, Antoniolo said.

The younger has a major hearing problem and could be deaf in one ear. The oldest twin has aggression issues and most recently assaulted a teacher when they were on a field trip.

Eisenberg Elementary was able to help. He was able to see a behavioral health counselor during the school day and Antoniolo was in constant communication with staff.

"I don't want to see him fall through the cracks," said Antoniolo, 50.

Ever since she got hurt working on the job in 2006, Antoniolo is grappling with a herniated disc in her back and arthritis in both legs.

She's worked since she was 16, she said, and it's frustrating she can't work to make ends meet. Her husband works as a master mechanic on high-end cars, but they also have TANF, or temporary assistance for needy families. Antoniolo did not qualify for disability benefits after she left her job, so money is tight.

"I have to choose between buying them food or putting clothes on their back," she said.

Poverty is one of the most pressing social determinants in health, which are driven by social structure and economics. Infant mortality and children's health are linked to family income and maternal education, according to the Urban Institute.

Those with higher incomes have jobs that have good benefits and more disposable income to afford medical care and a healthier lifestyle.

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Since she and her husband have begun caring for them, Antoniolo said the twins have been to a doctor 15 times for issues including allergies and asthma.

Children experiencing poverty are more likely to have chronic issues such as bad asthma or type 2 diabetes, said Dr. Iman Sharif, a pediatrician with Nemours/A.I duPont Hospital for Children.

A wellness center such as the Eisenberg project will help to ease the stress and provide resources that parents won't have to struggle to find or coordinate.

"It's also hard to think about taking a child to regular vaccines if you can't feed them," she said.

Exposure to stress has a negative impact on a child's development. It particularly impacts the body's hormones and makes chronic disease progress easier, Sharif said.

"Having the social supports in the community is really important," she said. "It’s a vicious cycle. If you are not healthy and you have uncontrolled asthma and you can't breathe well ...You are not going to do well."

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From January to March, since the school has implemented the extended health services, Forrest Watson, director of the Life Health Center, said 50 to 60 kids have been referred to behavioral health specialists to discuss behavior or trauma.

"Our purpose is not to replace the primary care physician. It's to bridge the gap between the two," Watson said.

Behavior issues often hide underlying sexual abuse or bullying problems, he said. For an 8 year old, acting out is simpler than speaking up or identifying emotions.

Antoniolo said her great-nephews are decent kids in a bad situation. All she wants is them to have stable friends and do well in school.

Ever since the eldest twin has been getting help in April, he's changed, she said. The school counselors have been invaluable resources.

At home, the boys still struggle, but Antoniolo is determined to expose them to positive experiences. Every Saturday they go out to eat. A favorite spot is Alice's Seafood at the New Castle Farmer's Market. Or they will go to Brandywine Park in Wilmington and watch the ships go by.

"We struggle with it, but me and my husband make everything happen for them," Antoniolo said. "They are worth it. It's not their faults."

Jen Rini can be reached at (302)324-2386 or jrini@delawareonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.