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.

A collaborative tour highlights school-based healthcare in action

Monroe Wellness Center staff shared strategies for strengthening partnerships

This past January, 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 Community Schools grantees for Navigating Community Health: A Collaborative Tour.

Grantees visited James Monroe High School, the on-site North Hills Wellness Center, and the Child and Family Guidance Center [also on-site]. Throughout the day, local health professionals and educators toured facilities, participated in a panel discussion, and shared strategies for strengthening partnerships to better support students and families.

The tour was one of many learning opportunities offered by the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC for the 2024-25 school year. As part of its transformational assistance work, the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC supports community schools in expanding community partnerships and integrated services. 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 to leverage the Community Schools Framework. 

What makes a community school unique?

As the community schools movement continues to grow, many ask what sets these schools apart. A community school serves as a hub, providing educational and social services that go beyond traditional academics. These schools partner with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies to offer essential resources such as healthcare, counseling, and after-school programs. By addressing non-academic barriers like poverty, lack of healthcare access, and housing insecurity, community schools support the whole child and create an environment where students can thrive.

Student leaders take the stage

Panel discussion featuring 11 speakers

A highlight of the day was the panel discussion, featuring 11 speakers, including two student Wellness Youth Advocates from James Monroe High School, Karina Corona and Diego Oerlemans. As first-time panelists, they shared their experiences educating student peers on critical topics such as behavioral health, substance use, nutrition, and sexual and reproductive health.

Karina and Diego discussed how they actively promote campus and community resources, including the Wellness Center, to increase student access to healthcare. They spoke about organizing tabling events during lunch, collaborating with other school clubs, and using social media to amplify awareness. Their participation offered grantees real-world examples of how student-led initiatives can enhance healthcare access and advocacy on campus.

Wellness Youth Advocates Karina Corona (left) and Diego Oerlemans (right)

Panel speakers included:

·Leana Rodriguez – School Nurse, Nurse Family Partnership, LAUSD
·Victoria Hurtado – Psychiatric Social Worker, Monroe HS
·Belinda Toscano – Community Schools Coordinator, Monroe HS
·Karina Corona & Diego Oerlemans – Wellness
·Evy Lowe – Senior Clinical Director, Child and Family Guidance Center
·Katrina Antonelli-Weiss – Organization Facilitator, Student Medical Services
·Su Dion – Chief Operating Officer, Valley Community Healthcare
·Rupal Mankassarian – Program Manager, Child and Family Guidance Center
·Suleyma Villa – Adult Ally for WYA, The L.A. Trust
·Sandra Vaca-Roman – Student & Family Resource Coordinator, LAUSD

Interactive learning: World Cafe with Experts

Small-group interactive discussion with panelists and grantees

Following the panel, grantees participated in the World Cafe Network with Experts, an engaging breakout session where they rotated through six small-group discussions with panelists. Topics included:

·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 session allowed grantees to ask questions, exchange ideas, and explore actionable steps for implementing similar programs in their own schools.

Community Schools grantees touring the North Hills Wellness Center and the Child and Family Guidance Center

A hands-on look at school-based health centers

The tour concluded with visits to the North Hills Wellness Center and the Child and Family Guidance Center. Grantees had the opportunity to walk through the facilities, see how they operate, and participate in a Q&A session with some clinic staff. Seeing this clinic in action reinforced the importance of accessible, school-based healthcare and the potential for replicating similar models in their own communities.

Grant initiative inspires school health innovations

Grantees ready for their bus tour

On May 14th, The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health (The L.A. Trust) and The Los Angeles County Office of Education organized a bus tour of school-based health centers. This initiative aimed to provide grantees of a California Department of Education Community Schools grant with an in-depth look at three innovative models of school-based health delivery, with the aim of inspiring them to integrate these successful practices at their own school sites.

As the community schools movement takes hold, many are wondering what differentiates a community school from other schools. A community school serves as a hub for the community, providing educational and social services to students and their families. Community schools often have partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies to provide services such as health care, counseling, and after-school programs. These schools aim to support the whole child and address the non-academic barriers to learning that students may face, such as poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and inadequate housing.

"Organizing this bus tour has been a transformative experience, allowing us to witness firsthand the incredible impact that school-based health centers can have on our students and their families,” said Lizette Patron, Community Schools Program Director at The L.A Trust. “By highlighting these innovative models, we hope to inspire our Community Schools grantees to adopt similar practices, creating environments where every student can succeed."

Touring Mendez High School Wellness Center

The tour included clinic visits at Mendez High School, Wilson High School, and Roybal Learning Center. Each site showcased unique approaches to promoting student health and well-being and demonstrated how Community Schools' capacity-building strategies and activities are integrated to develop and maintain thriving environments where students, families, and the community flourish.

Highlights included:

Student Panels: Engaging discussions led by students where they shared their experiences and the impact of school-based health services on their lives.

Parent Community Support: Demonstrations of strong parent engagement embody the Family and Community Engagement pillar, exemplifying a driving force for successful Community Schools.

Integration of Capacity-Building Strategies: All sites demonstrated the effectiveness and importance of strategic community partnerships and showcased their shared commitment and understanding of the community school strategy. By embodying community school values, they highlighted that the dedication of just a few individuals can ignite the development of a comprehensive school-wide strategy for student health.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Sylvia Mendez Wellness Center, the School-Based Health Center at Wilson High School, and the Wellbeing Center at Roybal Learning Center for their hospitality. Their commitment to fostering a healthy and supportive school environment is truly commendable and serves as an inspiration for all involved.

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