With the range of physical, psychological, and sociological issues facing adolescents today, students at Cape Henlopen, Sussex Central, and Indian River high schools reap great benefits from on-site Wellness Centers, supported by the Delaware Department of Public Health, Beebe Healthcare, and the Cape Henlopen and Indian River school districts. The Wellness Centers pick up where the school nurse leaves off, to make sure local teens have access to the healthcare they need.
Parental consent is a cornerstone of Wellness Center treatment, which is provided free of charge. Parents must grant permission to allow their child to access services. Services the Wellness Centers provide include:
- Routine physical examinations
- Sports or employment physicals
- Treatment of minor illness and injury
- Immunizations
- Prescriptions for routine medications
- Family physician follow-up Identification and referral for treatment of high-risk conditions
- Mental health counseling
- Educational programs on stress reduction, anger management, nutrition, and more
- Peer mentoring
The centers also focus on a range of health issues and offer lunchtime seminars and programs on topics such as:
- Alcohol abuse—the most common health problem among teens
- Healthy eating and obesity, fueled by sedentary lifestyles and fast-food habits (the centers now see more kids with diabetes and are kicking off an obesity awareness and prevention program)
- Smoking
- Depression and stress from jobs, academic pressure, and socioeconomic factors