A Camden, NJ Charter School Gets Its Own, In-House Health Center For Students and Parents
By Mike Dougherty
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- A school-based health and wellness center opened this morning at the Leap Academy University Charter School, in Camden, NJ.
The basement at the Leap Academy building, on Cooper Street, is now a full-service health clinic, run by the school of nursing of Rutgers-Camden.
Dr. Gloria Santiago, the school's founder (center of photo, wearing black), expects the new facility will cause drastic improvements in student health, attendance rates, and individual performance.
And, she notes, the wellness center also serves students' parents.
"We have a one-stop shop here," she said today. "You can get your social services, you can get your blood work, you can get your examinations. You can get your treatment, and then you can go back to the classroom or back home."
Parent-ambassador Vanessa Jones says this will make life easier for a lot of people.
"I think it's essential that we have something like this so close by for our families," she said.
The center will expand this summer and occupy an entire floor at the nearby Wilson building.