The Student Health Center, a partnership of Portland Public Schools with the Multnomah County Health Department, is located a couple of steps away from the main entrance of Franklin High School. It is open to serve all school-aged kids in Multnomah County from kindergarten through 12th grade at no charge regardless of health insurance status. Most importantly, they also provide confidential care to students.
The Student Health Center is like a full-service doctor’s office. They offer services such as sports physicals, lab testing, COVID testing and vaccinations, school-required immunizations, screenings, prescriptions, medications, mental health counseling, reproductive health counseling, and even dental cleanings. Student Health Center practitioner and primary care provider Amanda Cort says: “[it might be] more convenient to come here than your primary doctor or if you don’t have a primary care provider [since] basically anything you do there, you can do here.” Cort has been working with the Student Health Center since 2013 and currently executes the diagnoses, exams, and prescribing at the center. Alongside Cort is licensed practical nurse Justin Kuunifaa. “He does the shots. He calls the shots. He does the blood draws, he does the vital signs. He basically keeps this place running,” Cort says, referring to Kuunifaa. Cort also adds, “I think of us as sort of specialists in the health care of school age and adolescence, because that’s all we do.”
With mental health, including behavioral health, and reproductive health being huge concerns for many teenagers, affecting life both outside and in school, it is important to be aware that there is a place in school that offers services for both concerns. In a survey conducted by the Franklin Post, an anonymous respondent said that they don’t think the Student Health Center and the services they offer are advertised enough. “I feel they should promote it more because not many people really care about it or would take it seriously since it’s a school Health Center,” they added.
The Student Health Center offers both mental health and behavioral health services, with mental health services being long-term services, while behavioral health services are more short-term treatments for what’s going on with students at the moment. The Center has a therapist who supports students’ mental health. The students also typically start with being established with care with Cort. “Just because a lot of times the things that are going on in your body and in your mind are related to each other. And I can sort of help you figure out which would be the best for your mental health or behavioral health,” Cort says. Additionally, the center’s behavioral health services teach students coping strategies like relaxation techniques, provide some tips about sleep, or help manage any medical problems students may have. “So it’s really a great model for young people like yourselves, because in my experience, teenagers are really amazing at making changes in their lives, and really a lot more open to new information and able to sort of take that in and bounce back and be resilient,” Cort states.
Kuunifaa expresses that reproductive health is also a hugely sought-after service mainly because of the age group that they work with. Students from the age of 12 can come for reproductive health services, which may include contraceptives, counseling, or STD testing, with full confidentiality from anyone including parents. They provide every kind of birth control for free, from condoms to IUDs. Consultations, insertions, and explanations of all methods are also provided here. These services are great for young people because they might not have as many financial resources. Cort, however, emphasizes that it would be concerning if someone under 12 walks in to ask for those services; they might get some adult involvement unless they asked for educational purposes.
On top of that, the Student Health Center also provides physical health services, which include care for common illnesses that need immediate care, COVID testing, and vaccinations. They also offer preventative care for potential future illnesses and sports-related injuries. Another service they offer is gender-affirming care, where they provide binders and referrals for hormone therapy.
The Student Health Center is open all school days and students can either walk in or make an appointment. They also have an after-hours advice line with the Multnomah County Health Department with a 24-hour nurse and non-automated advice line to help triage students and help decide if they can wait or if they need to go to the hospital. Cort also adds that students should sign up for MyChart, a free online app and website where patients can check their medical records and book an appointment, so they can send confidential emails anytime, day or night. Kuunifaa adds that students can also use MyChart to read and go through their test results and visits. “So the great thing about this is that all the services are under one roof. You’re getting the medical, the counseling, and all that together all in one place,” Kuunifaa adds.
Donate to The Franklin Post
Your donation will support the student journalists of Franklin High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
