Local News

Program Makes A Health Connection With Kids

MIAMI (CBS4) ― Zaria Fletcher likes kindergarten and she loves seeing Anna Conaway, her school's nurse. Zaria goes to the school clinic at West Little River Elementary often, because she has cystic fibrosis and needs treatments five times a day.

Zaria's mother, Lorraine Hunt who is a single parent, says having a nurse like Anna Conaway available for Zaria gives her peace of mind, and a lot more.

"I keep in contact with her," said Hunt, "They let me know what she's doing and how she's doing."

Zaria has that kind of support because of HealthConnect in Our Schools, an initiative funded by the Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County. The idea behind the program is simple; put a nurse, a social worker, and a full-time medical assistant in the public schools to keep kids healthy. This year, students in more than 160 schools in Miami-Dade can see a HealthConnect team.

"HealthConnect in Our Schools is the first line of defense for these kids," says HealthConnect medical assistant Sandra Charles.

Charles is a member of West Little River's HealthConnect team. She helps her team do their job, including screening kids for medical and behavioral problems, referring them for treatment, assisting those who use daily medications and informing their parents about low cost or free healthcare options.

The team does another important job.

"We're educating them about their diseases, such as asthma, you know, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, many different illnesses, and childhood diabetes is a big issue as well," Sandra Charles says

For young children like Zaria, the lessons include basic health education, like how to wash your hands thoroughly, something Zaria's learned along with her ABC's. Lorraine Hunt is happy to see her daughter thrive in that environment.

"It's her first year in elementary school and to have someone to actually tend to her needs when I'm not able, I appreciate a lot," said Hunt.

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