KING COUNTY, WA - Today, Public Health - Seattle & King County released the annual report on Youth Health Services, a program partially funded by the Seattle Families and Education Levy. This program enrolled nearly 8,000 adolescents in Seattle and King County in order to provide them with comprehensive health services during the 1999-2000 school year.

"This program is an excellent example of an effective partnership between communities, local schools, and health providers," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Most importantly, youth are receiving accessible and high-quality health services."

Public Health's Youth Health Services program collaborates with local health providers to administer 10 school-based and two school-linked health centers in Seattle and King County. These comprehensive primary care centers provide medical and mental health screening and treatment.

"In the past, adolescents have been the group least likely to seek medical care, but we are addressing this issue by providing appropriate and teen-focused health services," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.

The Youth Health Services 1999-2000 Report includes:

• an overview of the program and services
• data from school-based and school-linked health centers
• comments and stories from students and staff

At eight Seattle high schools (Cleveland, Franklin, Garfield, Nathan Hale, Rainier Beach, Roosevelt, Sealth and West Seattle) with school-based health centers:

• 51% of students were enrolled in the health centers
• 33% (over 3,000) of students were users
• students made a total of 14,920 visits
• users averaged 4.7 visits
• 30% were physical health visits, 27% were preventive visits, 24% were mental health visits, 19% were other/unknown

In the two Seattle school-based centers in middle schools (Denny and Washington):

• 38% of students were enrolled in the program
• 18% of students were health center users
• students made a total of 1,272 visits
• users averaged 3.7 visits
• 32% were physical health visits, 14% were preventive visits, 44% were mental health visits, 10% were other/unknown

At the two school-linked health centers in Renton and Highline:

• services were provided to students from over 50 schools in South King County
• over 2,300 youth were enrolled
• students made a total of 6,133 visits
• 30% were physical health visits, 40% were preventive visits, 15% were mental health visits, 15% were other/unknown

According to Joseph Olchefske, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, "Health drives performance. Students need to be well to perform well."

To see the complete report, please visit www.metrokc.gov/health/yhs.