An inside look at school-based wellness in action
A panel featuring local health leaders and educators
This past April, The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health (The L.A. Trust), in partnership with the Greater Los Angeles Regional Transformational Assistance Center (R-TAC), welcomed a group of 30 educational leaders from L.A. County Community Schools for its second tour in the wellness center series, Navigating Community Health: A Collaborative Tour.
The attendees had the opportunity to explore the T.H.E. (To Help Everyone) Lennox Health Center. By showcasing the collaboration between a school and local health center, the tour aimed to inspire attendees and encourage them to consider implementing similar resources at their school sites. The day’s activities included guided tours of the facility, a panel featuring local health leaders and educators and thoughtful conversations around building stronger, more effective partnerships to uplift student and family well-being.
Participants took part in the
Wellness Wisdom Swap
This tour was one of several professional learning opportunities offered by the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC during the 2024–25 academic year. Through its transformational assistance efforts, the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC helps regional community schools deepen their integrated support systems and strengthen ties with local partners. Led by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC aims to transform educational practices and reduce disparities at community schools across Los Angeles County by partnering, guiding and co-learning with grantees of the California Community Schools Partnership Program to leverage the Community Schools Framework.
Community schools as hubs of hope and healing
At their core, community schools act as central hubs that bring together education and vital support services under one roof. Through strong partnerships with local nonprofits, public agencies and businesses, community schools provide students and families with access to healthcare, mental health support, enrichment programs and more. By tackling challenges such as poverty, unstable housing and limited access to care, community schools focus on supporting the whole child, ensuring every student has the opportunity to learn and grow in a stable, nurturing environment.
A patient’s perspective
A powerful moment during the day came from Shayla Woodard, who offered heartfelt insights as both a parent and a patient. She spoke candidly about her experiences navigating the healthcare system and shared thoughtful suggestions for how the T.H.E. Lennox Health Center could become more approachable and accessible for families in nearby schools and neighborhoods.
Shayla also emphasized the importance of collaboration between schools and health centers, highlighting how stronger coordination can ease the burden on families seeking both educational and health-related support. Her perspective underscored the need for systems that are not only effective, but also compassionate and family centered.
Panel speakers included:
Rosa Fernandez – T.H.E. Site Manager
Becki Blanco – Assistant Superintendent
Desiree Garcia – Community Schools Coordinator
Alejandro Quinones Baltazar – Medical Student at UCLA
Melissa Venegas – Medical Student at UCLA
Emily Cummins Polk – Social Emotional Wellness Coordinator
Shayla Woodard – T.H.E. Patient
Interactive learning: Wellness Wisdom Swap
After the panel, participants took part in the Wellness Wisdom Swap, a dynamic breakout session designed to spark dialogue and idea-sharing. Participants rotated through three focused small-group discussions led by panelists, covering key areas such as:
School-Based Health and Student Support
Healthcare Provider Establishment
Community Engagement and Advocacy
Resource Coordination and Access
School-Based Mental Health Support
Student Health Services Establishment
This interactive format created space for grantees to ask questions, exchange experiences and explore practical steps they could take to implement similar programs at their own schools. It also supported the tour’s objective of fostering collaboration and surfacing innovative approaches to student and community wellness.
A look at school-based health centers
Guided tour of the
Lennox Health Center
The day concluded with guided walkthroughs of the T.H.E. Lennox Health Center, giving grantees the chance to observe the clinic’s operations and ask questions during a Q&A with staff. This portion of the tour showcased the Health Center’s role in promoting student and community health firsthand. Witnessing its impact in real time reinforced the importance of accessible, school-connected healthcare and the potential for replicating this model to strengthen wellness infrastructure across Los Angeles County.