Conference

Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers (ICSHC)


School Health Center Conference 2012

 

 

SHC Conference logoSHC Conference Overview

Earlier this month, the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers hosted their annual conference at the Four Points by Sheraton in Peoria, IL. The conference, Sexual Health: Prevention Strategies from Childhood to Adulthood, convened more than 130 school health center professionals; health providers, and school teachers, staff, and administration.


On May 8th select attendees were treated to a tour of the Manual School Health Center, sponsored by Methodist In-School Health and Peoria School District 150, that highlighted the successes and challenges of SHC site operations and provided information on how to start an SHC in other communities. That evening, participants attended a preconference workshop which featured  a presentation on school based health center integration in the school environment by Laura Brey from the National Assembly of School Based Health Care.


On May 9th attendees were invited to participate in three of nine dynamic workshops designed to disseminate best practices and facilitate dialogue related to adolescent sexual health, collaboration for student success, and engaging youth in advocacy efforts.


The highlight of this conference was the keynote address, Raising the Bar: Standards for Sexual Health Education to Protect all Our Students, presented by Nora Gelperin, director of training for Answer-Rutgers University. Ms. Gelperin’s address spoke to the mission of this conference by reviewing the state of reproductive rights from the early 2000s until the present. This exercise demonstrated the shocking truth that reproductive rights are moving backward and made the case for educating the new generation on basic sexual health so they may be more effective advocates now and in the future.


ICSHC would like to thank for the following organizations for their support:

 

Conference Co-hosts

Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health

 

Conference Sponsor

School Nurse Supply

 

Exhibitors

Merck

Central Illinois Breastfeeding Task Force

Miles of Smiles, Ltd.

Save Abandoned Babies Foundation

Central Illinois Breastfeeding Task Force

ETR Associates

University of Illinois at Chicago- College of Nursing