The Healthy Youth Collaborative is dedicated to improving the health of children in underserved areas of Orange County. In its first year of the Healthy Youth Collaborative, it served 140 middle school students. After that first year, 79 percent of participating youth were performing at grade level in reading, and 74 percent were performing at grade level in math. Additionally, 91 percent of youth improved or maintained good attendance at school throughout the year.
The initiative provides medical and mental health services, academic tutoring and academic enrichment services before and after school programs. Orlando’s After School All Stars provides prevention and intervention programs, while Orlando Health’s Teen Xpress provides medical and mental health services. For many, the Teen Xpress is the students’ only method of medical care. The Teen Xpress provides a safe and private place for teen wellness, helping students in a critical phase of their development—students who would otherwise go without treatment.
Did You Know…?
Much of what influences a young person’s education happens outside the classroom. From access to quality health care for the whole family to steady employment for parents that pays a livable wage: all these issues can impact a child’s capacity to succeed in school, and in life. That’s why United Way supports the Community School model, which helps children and their parents overcome non-academic barriers through mental health services, family literacy programs, on-site medical and dental services, gang awareness and prevention programs, financial education, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, and more.