HEALTHCARE IN SCHOOLS
Our goal is to meet children where they are for their health and wellness needs—that’s why we work with Manchester School District to deliver primary and mental health care directly in the schools.
We know that success inside and outside of school is largely determined by children’s access to healthcare. School-based Health Centers (SBHCs) increase access to healthcare, reduce absences at work/school, and expand access to mental health services.
If your child is feeling sick at school, you don’t have to rush from work to pick them up or try to find a doctor’s appointment. We have an Amoskeag Health nurse practitioner who works with the school nurses at Beech Street and Gossler Park elementary schools. With your permission, our nurse practitioner can see your child at school for common symptoms like sore throat, cough, vomiting. We can also provide asthma follow-ups, ADHD evaluations, and continued medication monitoring. Some treatments may require a parent/guardian to be present; the nurse practitioner will let you know beforehand.
School-Based Health Centers
How Does It Work?
YOU RECEIVE A PHONE CALL THAT YOUR CHILD IS SICK
The school nurse will call you to see if you would like your child to be seen by the medical provider and will give you the option of joining the visit.
YOUR CHILD IS SEEN BY A PROVIDER
Amoskeag Health staff will examine your child and screen them for common viruses and infections.
YOU'LL KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT
The provider can prescribe medications, talk to you about next steps, or help you schedule a follow up appointment. You and the school nurse will make a final decision about whether your child can safely return to class or will need to go home.
Manchester’s School-Based Health Centers are financed under a contract with the State of NH, Department of Health & Human Services, with funds provided by the US Department of Health
and Human Services CFDA #93.354, FAIN #NU90TP922144.
School-Based Counseling Program
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
We provide weekly mental health counseling and mentorship to K-12 students in Manchester School District’s participating elementary, middle, and high schools. Each partnering school has a dedicated Community Health Worker (CHW) who can work with your family to assess your needs and help you connect with these services and any necessary supports outside of the school district.
The School-based Counseling Program provides full mental health assessments and treatment planning with a goal to enhance the overall physical, emotional, and educational well-being of children. We continually foster opportunities to build strong and meaningful connections with their families, schools, and communities.
We're fully integrated into the Manchester School District and its "Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavioral Health and Wellness" (MTSS-B), which provides a comprehensive system of social, emotional, and behavioral supports to promote student wellness and improve engagement in learning. Through this integration and collaboration, the School-Based Counseling Program develops individualized treatment plans and provides interventions to support success. By working with the school district and incorporating elements of MTSS-B, school-based BHCs work within the school to promote improved behaviors and functioning for students in need of additional school support.
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
Our Amoskeag Health school-based clinicians meet one-on-one with students weekly (for about 20-50 minutes, depending on the level of services required) to provide brief counseling, individualized support, and/or mentoring. They also help coordinate community resources to help students reach their goals, improve their mental health, and their overall health and well-being.
Our clinicians stay in touch with Manchester School District! They work directly with the students’ teachers to schedule sessions around their classes. If it’s more convenient, our school-based clinicians can also meet with your child within the community, at Amoskeag Health, summer programs, or via telehealth.
The goal of this program is to follow your child through graduation, as research tells us that long-term, supportive relationships increase a child’s chance for success; however, the length of counseling treatment is ultimately based on the individual needs of each participant.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD FIT – NOW WHAT?
Great! Students who want to be a part of the program do not need to be patients at Amoskeag Health, but they must obtain parental/guardian consent. If you would like your child to participate, please call 603-626-9500 and mention that you're interested in school-based counseling at your child's school. The representative will coordinate next steps with you.
Important Note About Insurance: If your child is currently enrolled in an insurance plan, the health plan will be billed for these services, and you might owe a co-pay or deductible depending on the plan’s benefits. If your child is not insured, Amoskeag Health can help you identify insurance options or determine a discounted fee using our income-based sliding fee scale.