New Student Health Center Coming to High School

Peabody Veterans Memorial High School students will soon get more services from the school’s health center, but they still won’t be able to pick up condoms.

In two votes on Tuesday night, the Peabody School Committee approved a health center at PVMHS while also voting to not allow the distribution of condoms, reported the Salem News.

A licensed social worker or behavioral health specialist and a pediatric nurse practitioner will be on site to provide routine medical services, as well as help with mental health issues. The project will be funded via grants. The center will move into the wood shop at the school.

The center will be a facility of North Shore Community Health Inc., and will offer more services than are currently provided by the two school nurses. Health Director Sharon Cameron said 52 communities across Massachusetts have school-based health centers, reported the Salem News.

The nonprofit has a similar center at Salem High School and runs health clinics in Peabody, Salem and Gloucester.

According to North Shore Community Health’s site, the services offered at the Salem High School location include: school/work/sports physicals; immunizations; emergency and non-emergency visits; medical care; health education; student workshops/education; and counseling.

Read the full Salem News article here.