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 Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), 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. 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 part of a statewide technical assistance grant supporting community schools in expanding community partnerships and integrated services. Through the Regional Technical Assistance Center, a hub for the grant in Los Angeles County, this initiative helps schools connect students and families with critical resources.

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.