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The mission of the Wellness Center at Woodbridge is to provide our teenagers with a means of obtaining health services that can be coordinated with each teen’s family physician. The center is structured to meet not only the physical needs of today’s adolescent, but also their health education, nutritional, mental, and emotional needs. The focus of the Wellness Center is on prevention services with a goal of promoting positive physical and mental health. The services available at the Wellness Center were developed by a Wellness Center Advisory Board comprised of parents, students, faculty, and health care providers. Students must have parental or legal guardian consent to use these services. Adolescents are typically a medically underserved part of our population. They need a readily accessible source of care which is sensitive to their developmental and emotional needs. The school system is an ideal setting for the delivery of preventative health services. Access to health services on site and education regarding healthy lifestyles will increase school attendance and improve the student’s ability to concentrate and perform in class.
What is the Wellness Center? All students, grades 7-12, may utilize the Wellness Center. Services are provided by Bayhealth Medical Center. Bayhealth is the result of the January 1997 merger of Kent General and Milford Memorial Hospitals. The Wellness Center Staff includes a Nurse Practitioner/Coordinator, Physician, Social Worker/Addictions counselor, Registered Dietician, and Administrative Assistant.
What services are offered? Services were developed and designed based on a needs assessment survey completed by the students, parents, and faculty of Woodbridge. These Services include:
Mental health Meeting the emotional and mental health of today’s youth is extremely important. An adolescent who experiences mood swings, anger, changes in friends, personality changes, or depression can be concerning to a parent. The Wellness center staff can assist with these teen issues by offering the following services: drug and alcohol counseling; self-esteem enhancement; stress and anxiety intervention; suicide prevention; depression screening and counseling, individual and family counseling; and referral services. Physical Health Students may use the Wellness center for routine physical examinations; sports or employment physicals; treatment of minor illnesses and injuries; immunizations; prescriptions for routine medications; family physician follow-up; diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases; pregnancy testing, and identification and referral for treatment of high risk conditions. Laboratory Tests Woodbridge students may utilize the Wellness Center for simple blood tests, throat cultures, STD and pregnancy testing. Nutrition The Wellness center has a registered dietician that provides students with information on healthy eating, diet, and exercise. Our dietician can help students, with nutritional issues such as weight management, sports nutrition, and special diets for chronic diseases (such as diabetes), to better understand their dietary needs. Education The Wellness Center will offer educational programs designed to promote a healthy and safe lifestyle. these programs include: smoking prevention/cessation; individual and group health education; HIV and AIDS education; responsible decision making; healthy lifestyle habits; and health promotion. They are offered on an individual basis, in the classroom, or in the cafeteria. Hours of Operation The Wellness Center is located in Room 110 at Woodbridge High School. It will be open from 7:00AM- 3:30PM on each day school is in session. Hours are available in the summer. The hours are limited and will be announced at the end of each school year. Students in grades 7 and 8 are seen as scheduled. The Wellness Center Staff will travel to Phyllis Wheatly Middle School as needed. These hours are usually coordinated with the school nurse at the middle school. In the summer parents can call to schedule sports physicals for middle and high school students.
Wellness Center Charges Services are provided at no cost to students. In order for a student to receive care, the parent or legal guardian must sign and complete the Medical History form and return it to the Wellness Center prior to the student being seen. Students may be referred to the Wellness Center by contacting the school nurse or guidance counselors.
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