New health clinic at Washington Prep



By Lauren Jones

Listen to an audio story from Annenberg Radio News

imageSt. John’s Well Child & Family Center CEO Jim Mangia.

St. John’s Well Child & Family Center opened its school-based health clinic on Thursday at Washington Preparatory High School in South Los Angeles.

Free dental, physical and mental care is now within walking distance for many residents in South Los Angeles.

“The physical and mental services would be the most used,” said Jacqueline Zendejas, a senior at Washington Prep High School. “Students, whether they like it or not have to get things off their chest and sometimes they wouldn’t consider their friends the best option because they don’t know if one day they won’t be there anymore or they’ll go tell other people.

Zendejas is pursuing a career in the medical field and says that this clinic is inspiring.

Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the Second District, was on hand for the opening. He said it will improve health care access for South LA residents.

imageL.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas at the opening of St. John’s Well Child & Family Center clinic at Washington Prep High School.

Community member, Kenneth Jones came out to lend his support of the completed project.

“It shouldn’t be anybody suffering at home because they have lack of medical attention or transportation,” Jones said. “For many years, post-traumatic stress disorder has been overlooked and it’s only been applied to U.S. veterans, but in actuality the children who grew up in gang infested community are under post-traumatic stress.”

This center not only focuses on physical health, but has an emphasis on people’s mental state as well. It will be a place for these children and the community at large to get the help they need.

“We never had a clinic where they can go and be able to express themselves because a lot of people cannot relate to gang violence,” Jones said. “Even if they never participated, btu I grew up and live on the street with 14 boys and then one day when you get 45 you look up again and there’s only two people still left standing.”

This string of 12 clinics is only the beginning. In January 2014, ObamaCare will create many more opportunities like this in underserved communities. St. John’s Well Child & Family Center opened another wellness clinic on March 27 at Dominguez High School in Compton.

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