This article was included in the “Your Community, Your Self” Community Benefits Report for Spring 2012. View the complete index of articles and content, or download the full PDF (four pages).
Healthy Learners Program
Self Regional Healthcare has partnered with Healthy Learners for
the past several years. The program is designed to improve the
health and well-being of economically disadvantaged children in
our area. Part of Healthy Learners’ funding comes from an annual
grant from the hospital’s community outreach arm.
For several years, Self Regional Healthcare has partnered with Healthy Learners to improve the health and well-being of economically disadvantaged school children in the Greenwood area.
Financial support through the hospital’s community outreach committee assists these youngsters through education, prevention and intervention services.
For example, a local 10-year-old with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) needed assistance with the management of his medication. Healthy Learners assisted his family in establishing and utilizing a medical home. Due to the child’s lack of transportation, Healthy Learners has been managing his appointments as well, keeping the family involved via phone calls and occasional home visits.
Dr. Akindele Adaramola of Self Regional’s Montgomery Center for Family Medicine not only provides the youth excellent medical care, but also serves as a mentor to the fifth grader. This has been crucial since a tragic death in his family caused the child’s school work to suffer. Dr. Adaramola was so concerned he took measures so he could personally monitor his care. The doctor encourages the youngster to read and recently asked him to write an essay about his plans for the future.
As a result, this youngster looks forward to his visits with Dr. Adaramola and is making progress. Like the name of the program implies, the student is becoming a “Healthy Learner.”