The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health

Our October edition of The Bridge newsletter is here! Discover key highlights, including the Salute to Student Health gala, where we honored leaders in student health, and the reopening of the Jordan Wellness Center, restoring vital services to the Watts community. Plus, learn about our efforts in tackling chlamydia through data and education at school Wellness Centers. Don’t miss out on these stories and more!

Today, our Executive Director, Maryjane Puffer, was presented with the DentaQuest 2024 Health Access Hero award! This recognition highlights her exceptional commitment to improving health access and driving positive, lasting change within our community. Congratulations, Maryjane, on this well-deserved honor!

A recent LAist article highlighted the impact of LAUSD's school wellness centers and also spotlighting The L.A. Trust's efforts in facilitating research based on student health and academic data. With about one-third of LAUSD students missing nearly a month of school annually, these centers are making a significant difference. As Dr. Dudovitz notes, "A child who's really struggling with untreated depression or anxiety, or even having difficulty focusing with ADHD — being able to get those health needs met by a doctor or other clinician right on your school campus can then support that student's ability to show up to school every day."

CA spends approximately $1B annually on health costs associated with STIs. Implementing free condoms in high schools is a cost-effective strategy to address the public health crisis and support youth health + wellbeing. We urge Asm. Approps to pass #SB954 off suspense.

We cordially invite you to join civic, education, and healthcare leaders at The L.A. Trust’s Salute to Student Health cocktail reception, where we will honor two inspiring individuals. This year we will be honoring L.A. Care CEO John Baackes with The L.A. Trust Visionary Award for his leadership in creating sustainable access to high-quality, affordable healthcare for the residents of Los Angeles County. We will also honor Dr. Jayanth Kumar, State Dental Director of the California Department of Public Health, with The L.A. Trust Champion Award for his unwavering service to the oral healthcare needs of our students and communities. This year's event will be a Garden Cocktail Reception featuring heavy hors-d'oeuvres, libations, and a live auction. We'll honor community members and celebrate the work of The L.A. Trust. RSVP today! https://lnkd.in/gu2_mXFX

Our July edition of The Bridge newsletter is here! Discover key highlights, including a comprehensive impact report on our school-based health initiatives, an announcement honoring John Baackes at our upcoming gala, and a special Save the Date for our Garden Cocktail Reception in September.

We are excited to recognize John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan, with our Visionary Award at the Salute to Student Health Gala on September 19! With over 40 years of experience, John has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives that promote equitable healthcare for low-income patients and foster community transformation. Under John's leadership, L.A. Care has become a national leader in healthcare, expanding its directly contracted network of physicians, improving care quality through innovative grading and incentivization systems, and growing from four to fourteen Community Resource Centers across Los Angeles County. His $205 million Elevating the Safety Net initiative is addressing physician shortages in underserved communities, providing grants and scholarships to ensure quality healthcare access for all.

We are thrilled to announce our latest publication in Health Promotion Practice featuring research by The L.A. Trust’s Senior Data & Research Analyst Alex Zepeda! Our study highlights the success of peer-to-peer health education events in LA public high schools, showing significant positive impacts on student wellness. Huge thanks to our dedicated student advocates and adult allies for making this possible! Read more about our findings and the impact of our health education programs here: https://lnkd.in/gv8p2syX

We're thrilled to share our 2024 Impact Report, showcasing the incredible work of LAUSD Wellness Centers and School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs). This year, we provided comprehensive care to nearly 50,000 patients through over 160,000 visits! Key highlights: -35% of patients received a blend of medical, dental, and mental health services. -Significant increases in dental care and preventive primary care. -A strong link between reduced chronic absenteeism and better health outcomes. -Enhanced mental health support contributing to improved academic performance. Read the full report at: https://lnkd.in/g6pK_zWg