Articles
Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in student health, education, and our organization's updates and events.
Education and healthcare meet COVID-19 head on
Los Angeles Unified has opened more than 60 Grab and Go food distribution sites to ensure students receive nutritious breakfast and lunch meals during the COVID-19 school closures. Superintendent Austin Beutner pictured center.
An unprecedented health crisis has been met with an unprecedented response from the Los Angeles healthcare and education communities.
“While the coronavirus mostly strikes adults, our kids are isolated and vulnerable right now,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health. “They are not in class. They miss their friends. And they are not getting the structure and services schools provide. We must support our students and families as they face this dual health and economic crisis.
“I applaud the students, teachers and leaders of L.A. Unified for adapting so quickly,” she said. “The resources the District has brought to bear — including nutrition, distance learning, and primary and mental health support, have been impressive.
“I also want to salute the response of our healthcare partners. They are the first responders in this crisis, and they are working hard under difficult circumstances,” she said.
How to give
Private donations are helping families with the greatest need. LAUSD has launched Students Most in Need to provide food, learning materials and digital devices to students.
Twenty area nonprofits are supporting We’re One Family, Los Angeles, a fund to help families meet basic needs, including food, rent, gas, childcare and healthcare. As of March 23, the fund had raised $100,000 in just 72 hours.
Get COVD-19 resources for California kids and families from Children Now.
Shutting down, ramping up
The Los Angeles Unified School District was one of the first in the nation to cancel classes to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus — and it moved quickly to fill the void. Within days of the shutdown LAUSD:
Opened more than 60 food “grab and go” sites distributing nearly 250,000 meals daily.
Deployed educational programming for hundreds of thousands of pre-K-12 students on the air. (Three PBS affiliates, — KCET, PBS SoCal and LAUSD station KCLS — will broadcast educational programming for all grade levels.)
Launched instructional continuity classes and announced an agreement with Verizon to provide Internet connectivity for students who need it. The agreement is a key component in the district’s plan for students to continue learning as campuses remain closed in response to COVID-19.
While LAUSD Student Health and Human Services has closed its LAUSD school-based clinics, many of the Student and Family Wellness Centers remain open to students and community members during the school closures. Visit our website for a complete list. They are also offering a wide range of services from its main hotline, (213) 443-1300 and website.
“The L.A. Trust is conducting day-to-day operations remotely and developing new curriculum and communications to support students and communities virtually while our schools are closed,” Puffer said. “We are laser-focused on the needs of our students and their families.”
Many Wellness Centers (and The L.A. Trust) will stay open
Many LAUSD Wellness Centers will remain open during the COVID-19 health crisis, according to a survey of the Wellness Network by The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health.
OPEN WELLNESS CENTERS*
Belmont
Carson
Fremont
Gage Middle School
Jefferson (Wednesdays only)
Manual Arts
Monroe
Washington Prep
CLOSED WELLNESS CENTERS
Crenshaw
Elizabeth Learning Center
Garfield
Hollywood High
Jordan
Locke Early Education Center
MaCES
Santee Education Complex
*Some Wellness Centers have modified schedules. Call for details.
The County of Los Angeles advises anyone with flu-like symptoms to call their doctor or 2-1-1 to see if they need testing — they should not visit any healthcare facility without checking that it is safe for them to do so.
The L.A. Trust open
In a letter to stakeholders, The L.A. Trust announced it would remain open during the coronavirus emergency.
“This is an unprecedented time in our city, nation and world,” Executive Director Maryjane Puffer said. “As we all take steps to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, we want you to know what The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health is doing in response:
The L.A. Trust is open for business during regular business hours, with staff working remotely. We will continue our day-to-day operations and reschedule on-campus and community outreach when we can safely resume these services.
We have postponed our Spring Wellness Network Learning Collaborative and cancelled our Summer Solstice 2020 fundraiser.
We will closely monitor the situation and provide updates from The L.A. Trust, the Los Angeles Unified School District and our Wellness Center and healthcare partners.
We will share fact-based content on how to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus crisis that is impacting our students, communities, clinics and healthcare providers.
“Nothing is more important to The L.A. Trust than the health of our children — or the well-being of the educators and healthcare professionals who care for them,” Puffer said. “I want to thank them for all they’re doing to help our students and protect the health of our community in this difficult time.”
This story was updated March 27 at 9:30 am PDT.
Student advisory members train each other at Y2Y event
More than 100 student health advocates and their adult allies learned from each other March 2, 2020, at The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health annual Youth to Youth Conference, held at the California Endowment in downtown L.A.
Members of The L.A. Trust’s Student Advisory Boards from the Belmont, Carson, Crenshaw, Elizabeth Learning Center, Fremont, Gage, Jefferson, Jordan, Locke, MaCES, Manual Arts and Washington Prep campuses attended. The next Y2Y Conference will be held in November.
“Y2Y is for students, by students,” said Robert Renteria, The L.A. Trust’s program manager who helped facilitate the gathering. “Students think of questions and answers adults don’t think of,” he said. “They also have great credibility with their peers. We saw in our workshops that these young people have tremendous insights on student health.”
The Summit included an impassioned keynote by former Hollywood High Student Advisory Board member Wendy Siguenza, who talked about the real-life challenges facing many LAUSD students, from immigration to social injustice. LAUSD Student Health and Human Services psychologist Dr. Kimani Norrington-Sands addressed the hidden trauma some students have suffered and outlined services, counseling and referrals available through the District’s Wellness Center network.
The L.A. Trust’s partner F*ck Cancer hosted an information booth and an online petition to the California State Assembly to expand access to the life-saving human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.
Youth-to-youth workshops
In the morning, students from Locke presented a one-hour workshop on how to promote HPV vaccinations; Crenshaw students gave a breakout session on STDs and birth control; and Carson students outlined how to relieve stress and improve the mental health of teenagers. In the afternoon, students from Jordan High gave a workshop on how to run a student health campaign on campus.
Students also participated in workshops on:
Wellness & Adolescent Substance Use Prevention project (WASUP)
Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE), focused on vaping cessation
The L.A. Trust’s Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) outreach
A presentation on LAUSD water quality by the District’s Chief Facilities Executive Mark Hovatter
A separate track provided information for the Student Advisory Boards’ Adult Allies.
The conference an exercise that asked students to consider the most important parts of their identities, including ethnicity, sexual orientation and personal passions, a social media challenge, a photo booth and a TikTok-inspired “Renegade” dance competition.
“The Y2Y event is always an ‘all hands on deck’ event for The L.A. Trust, and our entire staff was proud to support our student advocates once again,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director. “The enthusiasm of the young people is not just inspiring, it’s essential to the success of our programs and outreach,” she said. “It’s why we build student engagement into everything we do at The L.A. Trust.”
LAUSD and health officials plan for coronavirus
The COVID-19 outbreak is serious and the situation is changing fast. Experts say don’t panic, stay informed — and wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds.
The Los Angeles Unified School Angeles District and public health agencies are addressing the rapidly changing global coronavirus outbreak with contingency plans and public information.
LAUSD officials are getting updates daily at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. from The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and Superintendent Austin Beutner is posting Twitter updates twice a day. The LAUSD has also opened a hotline (213 443-1300) Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is updating its website daily with news on the virus. The California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control are also providing real-time updates.
“It’s too soon to know where this epidemic is headed,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The L.A. Trust and a former pediatric nurse with a master’s degree in public health. “There are a relatively small number of cases in the County today, but that could change rapidly. The most important thing is to stay informed and use the same hygiene precautions you use for the flu.”
Hygiene is key
LAUSD has released a video on the outbreak emphasizing the importance of frequent and thorough handwashing. The Los Angeles County of Department Health recommends these precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus and flu:
Have provisions that will last a few days (water, food, essential hygiene, etc.)
Get immunized against the flu. This will relieve what could be a highly impacted healthcare system
Stay home when you’re sick (don’t wait until you are very sick)
Make sure you are using a robust, regular cleaning schedule for frequently touched surfaces
Wash your hands frequently (for at least 20 seconds)
Check out their website for the most accurate information at publichealth.lacounty.gov
What to tell students
“Be informed and honest about the virus, but avoid anything that might stress your students or family members,” Puffer said. “And remember, kids are good at reading emotions.”
“You can be frank with adolescents — they may know more than you. With younger kids, it’s important to listen and hear what their concerns are,” Puffer said. “Emphasize that the risk of getting sick is low and you will take them to the doctor should the need arise.”
“On behalf of The L.A. Trust I want to thank the healthcare professionals who are working locally and worldwide — often at risk to their own health — to address this outbreak,” she added.
Threatening weather doesn’t dampen The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event
The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event February 22 included fun, prizes, education and free dental screenings from The L.A. Trust’s allies and partners.
A record number of Angelenos ignored impending rain to attend The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event, February 22, 2020, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s annual Health and Wellness Festival & 5K at Dodger Stadium.
The L.A. Trust event was presented with the UCLA-led consortium More LA Smiles and supported by silver sponsors Big Smiles Dental, Delta Dental, Liberty Dental Plan Companies and the office of L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Also sponsoring the event were Access Dental, America’s ToothFairy (NCOHF), Cedars-Sinai COACH for Kids Dental, East West Bank and Patterson Dental.
Hundreds of Festival attendees participated in The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event, which included fun, prizes, free dental screenings and information booths hosted by L.A.’s leading oral healthcare organizations. In partnership with Sesame Street in Communities, the event also included a special appearance by Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. “Potter the Otter” (Nina Nguyen and Lillian Orta of The L.A. Trust) entertained dozens of small children by reading a storybook about the benefits of drinking water.
On the main stage
Executive Director Maryjane Puffer of The L.A. Trust reprised her role as L.A.’s unofficial Tooth Fairy, appearing on the Health and Wellness Festival main stage along with Program Manager Esther Yepez, who helped organize the Tooth Fairy Event.
“The sun really shone on this event,” said Yepez . “Not only did we have a record number of partners and visitors, we helped provide dental screenings to LAUSD students and parents and spread the word about the importance of early oral healthcare,” she said. “Even the weather cooperated.”
The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy event, now in its fifth year, is one of the biggest public oral health awareness events in Los Angeles, noted Stella Kim, associate program director. “The L.A. Trust is committed to improving the dental health of our kids and proud to stage this event bringing the public and the dental healthcare community together.”
Student Advisory Board allies share best practices to engage students
Program Manager Robert Renteria and other staff members from The L.A. Trust led the spring 2020 meeting of Student Advisory Board Adult Allies on January 29.
Adult allies who work with the Student Advisory Boards of the LAUSD’s Wellness Center network met at The L.A. Trust January 29, 2020 to discuss outreach programs to improve student health.
More than a dozen Adult Allies and healthcare advocates from across the Wellness Center Network attended, including Norma Ahumada, Cassie Angu, Hanna Christianson, Kristie Garrison, Karina Gonzalez, Annette Hernandez, Deannie Moreira, Marina Quintanilla, Adam Renuet, Miriam Villaseñor, Stephan Salazar, Miguel Topete, Michelle Torres and Brenda Villatoro.
Strategies and tactics
The half-day meeting, facilitated by Program Director Robert Renteria, included tactics to engage students, best practices sharing and a review of resources available from The L.A. Trust and other sources.
The meeting focused on five student health campaigns prioritized by The L.A. Trust:
Healthy Eating and Active Living, designed to reduce childhood obesity and promote healthier eating habits and more active lifestyles.
Essential Access Health, designed to increase awareness of sexually transmitted disease, increase chlamydia screenings at school-based Wellness Centers and reduce teen pregnancy rates.
Not Us, designed to encourage vaccination for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and reduce related cancers.
TUPE (Tobacco-Use Prevention Education), designed to educate students about the health risks of vaping and using drugs, including cannabis and tobacco.
SBIRT, a Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral-to-Treatment practice used to identify, reduce and prevent the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
Peer education key
“Our Student Advisory Boards are key to helping students make the right choices, and our adult allies ensure they get the resources they need,” Robert Renteria said. “The L.A. Trusts works directly with these student health leaders and we are looking forward to hearing their ideas March 2 at our annual Y2Y (youth-to-youth) Summit.”
“Every student, like every adult, has the power to improve their health,” Rosario Rico added. “It is up to those of us in the student health community to make sure students have the education and healthcare access they need.
“I am amazed at the passion of our adult allies and the passion of our student health advocates. They are making a real difference in the health outcomes of LAUSD students.”
Students find a healthcare home at LAUSD Wellness Centers
LAUSD’s network of Wellness Centers, like this one operated by South Central Family Health Center, are on the front lines of student and community health.
When a Delta 777 passenger plane dumped a load of aviation fuel over the Cudahy area last month, students at six LAUSD schools were affected—and the Wellness Center at Elizabeth Learning Center sprung into action.
The clinic, operated by South Central Family Health Center, offered free screenings to everyone in the community, regardless of insurance, immigration status or ability to pay. The clinic is part of Los Angeles Unified School District’s network of Student and Family Wellness Centers, which provide a healthcare home for students and community members in the district’s most underserved neighborhoods. Tens of thousands of students and community members rely on the clinics each year.
“When there’s an environmental emergency, a flu outbreak or a spike in STDs, the Wellness Centers often see it first,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health. “They are on the front lines of student and community health, and the services they provide are indispensable. Nothing is more important to The L.A. Trust than supporting these clinics.”
Partners in health
The L.A. Trust provided direct financial support to the six original LAUSD school-based health clinics between 1994 and 2002. Since then it has worked closely with LAUSD Health and Human Services to support the development of 15 (soon to be 19) new school-based Wellness Centers, focusing on strategies to make them self-sufficient and sustainable.
“Our Wellness Center support mission today includes a broad range of prevention programs, best practices and research,” Puffer said. She cited The L.A. Trust’s groundbreaking Data xChange initiative, student engagement efforts and Wellness Network Learning Collaborative workshops as examples of how The L.A. Trust supports the clinics.
The Wellness Center Network is overseen by LAUSD Health and Human Services, headed by Executive Director Pia V. Escudero. Professional services are provided by these Federally qualified health centers: Asian Pacific Healthcare Venture at Belmont; Eisner Health at Santee Education Complex; Kaiser Permanente, LAUSD Student Medical Services and Planned Parenthood Los Angeles at Hollywood High; Mission City Community Network at Maywood Center for Enriched Studies; Northeast Community Clinics at Gage Middle School; St. John’s Well Child and Family Center at Manual Arts High and Washington Prep; South Central Family Health Center at Elizabeth Learning Center and Jefferson High; South Bay Family Health Center at Carson High; T.H.E. (To Help Everyone) Health and Wellness Centers at Crenshaw High; UMMA Community Clinic at Fremont High; Valley Community Healthcare at North Hills-Monroe High; Via Care at Garfield High; and Watts Health at Jordan High and Locke Early Education Center.
Primary care plus
In addition to primary and dental care, most LAUSD Wellness Centers provide mental health services to students and community members. LAUSD School Mental Health provides intervention, care and referral at the Belmont, Carson, Crenshaw, Elizabeth, Gage, Locke, Maywood and Washington Prep Wellness Centers.
Other mental health services providers include Aviva Family and Children’s Services at Hollywood High; Child and Family Guidance Center at North Hills-Monroe; Children’s Institute at Jordan; Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic at Manual Arts; and Weber Community Center at Fremont.
“Our kids hold all the promise in the world,” Puffer said. “Helping support them with access to care—whether it’s asthma, anxiety, depression or substance use—is part of the holistic wellness mission of The L.A. Trust. ”
Tooth Fairy Event will star oral health heroes Saturday, Feb. 22
The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event will feature fun, prizes, free dental screenings and information about oral health.
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health is joining forces with the UCLA-led consortium More LA Smiles and other dental health heroes to present its biggest oral health event ever—The L.A. Trust’s fifth annual Tooth Fairy Event, Saturday, February 22 at Dodger Stadium from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s annual Health and Wellness Festival & 5K, expected to attract more than 5,000 students and community members. The event is free and open to all (pre-registration is required for LAUSD 5K participants).
The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event will feature fun, prizes, free dental screenings and information booths hosted by L.A.’s leading oral healthcare organizations. In partnership with Sesame Street in Communities, the event will also include a special appearance by Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.
The LAUSD Health and Wellness Festival will include live entertainment, food trucks, fitness and dance classes, celebrity appearances, free stadium parking, and an interactive Kids Zone.
Running partners
In addition to the title sponsor—the UCLA-led consortium More LA Smiles—the Tooth Fairy event is supported by silver sponsors Big Smiles Dental, Delta Dental, Liberty Dental Plan Companies and the office of L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Also sponsoring the event are Access Dental, America’s ToothFairy (NCOHF), Cedars-Sinai COACH for Kids Dental, East West Bank and Patterson Dental.
“The L.A. Trust is honored to be part of this amazing community event once again, and I want to thank Los Angeles Unified for inviting us,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The L.A. Trust and L.A.’s unofficial Tooth Fairy. “February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and it’s a good time to remember how important oral health is to our young people.”
Puffer thanked “the healthcare companies and nonprofit organizations who’ve joined with us to stage this unique celebration of oral health. The care and education we give our young people today will pay dividends for a lifetime.”
The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event will help kids brush up on oral health
Who flosses after every meal? The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event will advance oral health Saturday, February 22 at Dodger Stadium.
Students and their families will join oral health providers and Los Angeles Tooth Fairy Maryjane Puffer at The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event, Saturday, February 22 at Dodger Stadium from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fifth annual event is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s annual “Move It!” Health and Wellness Festival and 5K, attracting more than 5,000 kids and family members.
In addition to the 5K walk/run course, the Festival will include live entertainment, food trucks, fitness and dance classes, celebrity appearances, free stadium parking, booths from health providers and an interactive Kids Zone featuring games, face painting, an obstacle course, sports clinics and more.
The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event will be a key component of this high-profile community event, featuring free dental screenings, prizes and giveaways, photo opps and character appearances by Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster and others.
It’s fun-ucational
The Tooth Fairy Event will spotlight oral health information and booths hosted by L.A.’s leading oral healthcare organizations, including the Title Sponsor, UCLA-led consortium More LA Smiles. Other event sponsors include Big Smiles Dental, Liberty Dental Plan, the office of L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, America’s Toothfairy, Cedars-Sinai, East West Bank, Patterson Dental and Premier Access Dental.
Sponsorship opportunities for The L.A. Tooth Fairy Event are still available; please contact Anna Baum of The L.A. Trust by Friday, January 31.
Registration is not required for the Festival—pre-registration is required for entering the race.
“February is National Children’s Dental Health Month,” said Maryjane Puffer, L.A.’s top Tooth Fairy and executive director of The L.A. Trust. “There’s no better time — and no better place — to promote the lifelong benefits of good oral health to children, adults, and caregivers than The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event!”
“We have a lot of fun surprises planned for this year’s event,” said Stella Kim, associate program director at The L.A. Trust. “Program Manager Esther Yepez and I will be on hand with every member of The L.A. Trust staff to ensure everyone has a great time and learns more about oral health.”
A ground-breaking year for The L.A. Trust and its partners in student health
Maryjane Puffer joined students and community leaders at the groundbreaking for a new Student and Family Wellness Center at Mendez Learning Center December 15.
The year 2019 was a busy one for The Los Angeles Trust and its partners, and 2020 will be busier still. Thanks to its partners and stakeholders, last year The L.A. Trust:
Made final preparations for the launch of its ground-breaking Data xChange initiative, which will link confidential Wellness Center data with academic performance numbers to improve outcomes on both.
Supported LAUSD’s growing network of Student and Family Wellness Centers, helped dedicate new clinics at Santee Education Complex and other schools, and hosted two Learning Collaboratives where clinicians received critical data and best practices on student healthcare.
Provided oral health education and partnered with More L.A. Smiles to provide free dental screenings and interventions to thousands of kindergartners and third-graders at LAUSD elementary schools.
Supported anti-vaping and substance use education efforts across the District, assisting student outreach and hosting a Vaping 101 webinar series for clinicians and others.
Hosted a Youth2Youth Summit engaging 100 student health advocates and their adult allies from across the District.
Presented recipes, nutrition and food-shopping advice at more than 50 classroom and community events as part of the CalFresh Health Living initiative.
Worked with UCSF research staff on the development and delivery of the “Health-E You/Salud iTu,” an app-based contraception awareness program focused on Latina youth. The program resulted in a 117% increase in the use of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (results will be published in leading health journals this year).
Partnered with leading healthcare organizations and announced important new program grants, driving the organization’s mission through 2021.
Hired new staff, including Marsha Ellis as director of programs; Rob Wray as associate director of communications and media; Mackenzie Scott as student engagement coordinator; and Danielle Griffin as student engagement assistant.
2020 vision
“We had a great 2019,” said Executive Director Maryjane Puffer, “and we have laid the groundwork for a truly breakthrough year in 2020.”
She said The L.A. Trust has a new strategic plan, a new logo and a new mission statement: “Bridging the worlds of health and education to achieve student wellness.”
“We also have our first vision statement,” Puffer stated. “It’s ‘A world where every student is healthy and successful.’ We have always stood for this, but this is our northstar and it’s important to share it.”
Puffer said The L.A. Trust will reintroduce itself in the spring with a new website and a new awareness campaign. “The L.A. Trust believes nothing is more important to the future of our country than the health of our kids. In 2020, we will be better positioned than ever to help advance student health where it’s needed most.”
‘Sharing Brings Hope’ from LAUSD to area nonprofits and their clients
“Sharing Brings Hope” benefits organizations serving communities in need. Here Dr. Tu Nguyen of More LA Smiles conducts a student dental exam as part of The L.A. Trust’s oral health initiative.
The Los Angeles Unified School District’s “Sharing Brings Hope” 60-day charity drive officially starts February 3, 2020. Last year, thousands of teachers, staff, students and family members contributed to the campaign to strengthen some of L.A.’s strongest nonprofits.
“The campaign raised more than $520,000 in 2019, and we hope to top that this year,” said Anna Baum, director of development for The Los Angeles Trust. “We are proud to be part of this campaign and grateful to the LAUSD community for their support.”
The annual campaign benefits The L.A Trust and 10 other local nonprofit organizations: the Asian Pacific Community Fund, Brotherhood Crusade, Community Health Charities, EarthShare California, Kathryn Kurka Children’s Health Fund, LAUSD Employee Sponsored Scholarship Fund, United Latinx Fund, United Negro College Fund, United Teachers Educational Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
There are several ways to give: one-time contributions by cash or check, or payroll deductions. Visit the Sharing Brings Hope website or call (888) 492-4738 to learn more.
The campaign will host an invitation-only Leadership Breakfast on January 22 featuring LAUSD and community leaders and recognizing last year’s top contributors at the school, local district and department levels.
The L.A. Trust will host an event in February at LAUSD headquarters to give Beaudry fundraising coordinators more information on how to organize.
As vaping epidemic grows, educators and healthcare providers join forces
LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner appeared with students and educators outside Federal Court to announce a class-action vaping lawsuit.
L.A. School Superintendent Austin Beutner stood on the courthouse steps in downtown Los Angeles October 29, 2019 to declare war on vaping. Flanked by educators, students and community leaders, Beutner announced a class-action lawsuit to hold industry-leading vape-pen manufacturer Juul “accountable for the role it has played in creating an epidemic that affects the health of our students, disrupts student learning and is taking money away from our core mission—educating students.”
“We are here to join others in the cause to stop this epidemic,” Beutner said. “The money we are spending to deal with the trauma vaping is bringing into our schools is money not spent on instruction.”
Tobacco use prevention and education (TUPE) is one of the top missions of The L.A. Trust, which brings the worlds of education and healthcare together to tackle urgent challenges facing more than 600,000 students in the LAUSD.
The crisis is urgent, Renteria said. Student cigarette smoking has declined sharply in the past few decades, but total tobacco use — driven by vaping — is on the rise. A federal survey shows 27.5% of high school students have used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days.
Vaping 101
Dozens of school-based health professionals joined The L.A. Trust and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles November 13 for its latest outreach, a webinar called “Vaping 101” hosted by L.A. Trust Program Manager Robert Renteria and featuring Stephan Lambert, prevention education coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education. It’s the first in a series of three Wellness & Adolescent Substance Use Prevention (WASUP) webinars hosted by Children’s Hospital and The L.A.Trust.
Watch the webinar now
As of November 13, health officials in 49 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have 2,172 cases of vaping-related lung illness. Forty-two deaths have been reported from 24 states and the District of Columbia.
The L.A. Trust works with the LAUSD’s Beyond the Bell Branch on vaping abatement programs that give students facts about the health dangers of vaping, and resources to foster peer-to-peer conversations that promote cessation. The L.A. Trust also works with Student Advisory Board members, adult allies and staff at LAUSD Wellness Centers to coordinate education, train advocates, provide treatment referrals, sponsor outreach events and publicize the dangers of cigarette smoking and vaping in social media.
Latest Wellness Center opens at Santee Education Complex
L.A. Trust Executive Director Maryjane Puffer addressed the importance of school-based wellness centers at the Santee Education Complex ribbon-cutting, December 2, 2019.
The newest LAUSD Student and Family Wellness Center opened December 2, 2019 at Santee Education Complex in South Los Angeles—and educators, students, clinicians and healthcare leaders welcomed the new facility in style.
Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health, said the benefits of school-based health centers are proven: “Students who get quality healthcare have better outcomes and less chronic disease than those who don’t.”
Puffer said. The L.A. Trust was proud to support the establishment of the new clinic early on, and to assist the growing LAUSD Wellness Center network, she said.
The ceremonies were led by Los Angeles Unified Board Member Mónica García, who noted that the District has invested ten of millions of dollars building school-based wellness centers in high-need areas. An ebullient García led the crowd in applause for everyone who helped make the new center possible, from students and staff to advocates and taxpayers.
Speakers and ribbon-cutters included Kristina Tokes, LAUSD deputy chief facilities executive; Alicia Garoupa-Bollinger, representing Pia Escudero, executive director of LAUSD Student Health and Human Services; Martine Singer, CEO of the Children’s Institute; Joan Sullivan, CEO of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools; and Santee Principal Susana Gutierrez.
Power of partnership
Three more Wellness Centers are currently on the drawing boards: Mendez High School in Boyle Heights (ground-breaking held December 9), Maclay Middle School in Pacoima, and Hyde Park Elementary in South Los Angeles. A wellness center at Telfair Avenue Elementary in Pacoima opened in October.
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health has supported the Wellness Center network since its inception in 2009, advocating for new centers, bringing programs, resources and education to students and community members, conducting clinician training, conducting research and establishing Student Advisory Boards to promote youth engagement.
A program staff of nine is currently working on more than a dozen different initiatives impacting the health of L.A. students. In October, The L.A. Trust hosted its semi-annual Wellness Network Learning Collaborative focused on innovative approaches to HPV prevention, contraception awareness, and other urgent student health issues.
The future is data-driven
“The L.A. Trust provides a bridge between the education and healthcare community, and the Wellness Centers are the front door, for both students and community members,” said Puffer. “Our priority is prevention and education, especially in the critical areas of oral health, nutrition, tobacco and drug use, sexual and reproductive health, and, increasingly, mental health. We are proud to partner with government agencies, LAUSD and leading health and dental care providers to help make a difference in student health.”
Going forward, The L.A. Trust’s Wellness Center support will be driven by data. The L.A. Trust’s innovative Data xChange initiative will link healthcare and educational performance data to find ways to improve healthcare strategies and educational outcomes. “This will not only help us deliver on our promise of improving the health of the LAUSD communities we serve, it will give us the insights we need to design programs and services that connect better healthcare to improved educational performance,” said Puffer.
Funding for the Data xChange comes from grants from Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente, DentaQuest and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation , among others.
“The L.A. Trust is an independent nonprofit devoted to the students of the LAUSD, but the vast majority of our budget comes from outside funders and agencies,” Puffer said. “These relationships help us serve as a bridge between the education and healthcare and connect the dots in student health.”
The L.A. Trust delivers nourishing ideas to LAUSD communities
L.A. Trust Health Educator Lillian Orta shares nutrition ideas and recipes with community members at the Fremont High School Fresh Food Fair.
On a brilliant November morning, neighborhood residents are lined up near the UMAA Fremont Wellness Center to get into the Free Food Fair at Fremont High in South Los Angeles. The Fair offers pumpkins, mangoes, squash, lettuce and other fresh produce—and nutrition, health and recipe advice from The L.A. Trust’s Program Director Nina Nguyen and Health Educator Lillian Orta.
It’s all part of The L.A. Trust’s school and community outreach on behalf of CalFresh Healthy Living. The state program, formerly known as Champions for Change, is a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) initiative that supports healthy, active and nourished lifestyles by teaching low-income Californians about good nutrition and how to stretch their food dollars, while also “building partnerships in communities to make the healthy choice.”
In the field
The L.A. Trust works with LAUSD and the District’s school-based Wellness Centers to carry the CalFresh Healthy Living message to students and community members both. “It’s really rewarding to be a CalFresh Healthy Living partner,” said Nguyen. “Good health starts with good nutrition, and people really get engaged in our outreach,” she said. “It doesn’t hurt that fresh food looks and tastes so much better than cheap processed food.”
Since October, Nguyen, Orta and L.A. Trust Program Manager Esther Yepez have travelled across Los Angeles to talk to students and community members about nutrition, physical activity and healthy beverage options (hint: water is better than soda). By March 2020, the team will have conducted 50 classroom sessions and appeared at two community events and two school events at five different sites in the District. They’ve also distributed thousands of brochures and recipe books in Spanish and English.
“Eating healthy and staying active helps prevent so many long-term health issues—from tooth decay to obesity and diabetes,” Rico said. “In most instances, motivation is not the problem. Getting and preparing fresh food on a budget is the challenge, and we’re proud to partner with CalFresh Healthy Living to support our communities in meeting that challenge.”
Eight new grants will drive The L.A. Trust mission
The Los Angeles Trust is proud to announce eight new grants from partners who understand the critical health-related needs and issues facing students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Several of these partners came forward earlier in this school year to lend support to our mission.
Long-time partner Kaiser Permanente awarded a $500,000 grant over two years to fund three initiatives: Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL); our Oral Health Initiative; and the groundbreaking Data xChange. HEAL is Kaiser Permanente’s multi-faceted, integrated strategy to achieve long-term sustainable reductions in obesity and related chronic illnesses; funds for the Oral Health Initiative will support education and dental screening for kindergarteners as well as parent and caregiver education; and the Data xChange funding will make it possible for us to integrate academic data with Wellness Center health data. Kaiser Permanente’s beneficent support continues to be a mainstay of our work.
Another exciting development is the continuation of work on SBIRT coordination (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) at five Wellness Centers. This is an impactful four-year grant from the California Community Foundation to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, with which we partner to increase screenings and improve data collection. With the legalization of cannabis, and with vaping and drug use on the rise in our schools, this work is more important than ever.
DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement (DentaQuest Partnership) has remained a major supporter this year, with three generous grants to support improvement of oral healthcare delivery in Los Angeles and beyond. We received $125,800 for the Oral Health Initiative to increase our oral health policy advocacy, the oral health build-out of the Data xChange, and to increase student participation at the elementary school dental screenings we facilitate. In addition, we received $111,226 to support our participation in DentaQuest Partnership’s Oral Health Progress and Equity Network, where our staff serves as a key connector for the growing national network’s infrastructure; and $12,900 for Executive Director Maryjane Puffer to participate in the Regional Oral Health Connection Team. We’re thrilled to continue the groundbreaking work that DentaQuest Partnership has championed for many years, addressing the pervasive but entirely preventable chronic disease of tooth decay among children in the U.S.
Cedars-Sinai is also supporting the Data xChange build-out with a $25,000 grant. We’re very pleased to partner for the second time with Cedars-Sinai, which continues to be a champion for healthy communities.
We’re delighted to be working again with Fu*k Cancer through a $40,000 grant to raise awareness about cervical cancer prevention through HPV vaccination campaigns. This year the program will be enhanced by increased work with the Student Advisory Boards as well as social media support provided by Fu*k Cancer. The Data xChange will play a key role in tracking vaccination rates.
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation awarded The L.A. Trust a general operating capacity-building grant of $75,000. This generous support will help us strengthen the organizational infrastructure as well as support youth development and the Data xChange.
The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation is another long-time supporter that recently granted The L.A. Trust general operating funds in the form of a $15,000 grant.
Preventing cavities on Halloween (and all year long)
No one wants to take the treats out of Trick or Treat this Halloween. Least of all Maryjane Puffer, executive director of the L.A. Trust for Children’s Health and L.A.’s own “Tooth Fairy.” Puffer and her team at The L.A. Trust are dedicated to preserving the oral health of nearly 600,000 students in the L.A. Unified School District. “We see the damage that candy and sugary drinks can do. But there are ways to reduce cavities and still have fun.”
Puffer cites the American Pediatric Dental Association, which said that adults should limit what they give out (and kids should limit what they consume). Sticky, chewy and acidic candies are especially bad. Chocolate, pretzels, chips and sugar-free gum are better. And non-edible treats like temporary tattoos, stickers and toothbrushes are best.
The sky should not be the limit, according to The L.A. Tooth Fairy and the APDA. You can screen your child’s bag and trade up to a toy, or give excess candy to the Halloween Fairy to share with someone else.
The L.A. Trust has an entire team devoted to oral health in the sprawling Los Angeles Unified community and works in full partnership with LAUSD Student Health and Human Services staff along with university and community providers. The L.A. Trust team, spearheaded by Associate Program Director Stella Kim and Program Manager Esther Yepez, focuses on underserved areas, conducting events at dozens of elementary schools and screening thousands of kids.
Oral health a social justice issue
“The need is great,” Kim says. “About 50% of children screened have evidence of decay – a significant number have emergencies like abscesses or broken teeth.” Kim and Yepez use puppets with teeth and oversize toothbrushes to demonstrate proper brushing to the kids, but oral health is not all fun and games. “Oral health is essential to learning,” Kim said. “It is the most chronic disease in children, and it’s entirely preventable.” It’s estimated that an average of 2.2 school days per student per year could be saved by better oral health treatment.
DentaQuest, one of the nation’s largest dental benefits organizations, is the lead funder of The L.A. Trust’s oral health initiative. “Without their generous assistance we could not make a difference in the lives of so children,” Puffer said.
The L.A. Trust is looking forward to its annual Tooth Fairy Event at LAUSD’s 5K and Health & Wellness Festival, February 22 at Dodger Stadium. The festival attracts thousands of students and their families each year — top healthcare providers from Los Angeles and the nation will attend this premier outreach event.
Kaiser grants $500,000 to The L.A. Trust for new solutions
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health has announced a two-year, $500,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente to provide healthcare programs, foster healthy habits and generate insights to improve student health in Los Angeles public schools.
A portion of the grant will underwrite an innovative new Data xChange initiative that will link healthcare and educational performance data to find ways to improve healthcare strategies and educational outcomes.
“This major grant will not only help us deliver on our promise of improving the health of the LAUSD communities we serve, it will give us the insights we need to design programs and services that connect better healthcare to improved educational performance,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The L.A. Trust.
Kaiser fully committed
Will Grice
“At Kaiser Permanente we are committed to helping everyone in our communities achieve total health,” said Will Grice, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center.“That is why, through this grant, we’re proud to support The L.A. Trust in their efforts to increase access to oral health education, screenings and referrals for LAUSD students and their families, integrate healthy eating, active living programs into schools, and implement a system that measures the impact of health services on academic performance and attendance,” Grice said. “Together, we can work to reduce the disparity in access to quality health care in our communities.”
The mission of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health is “to improve student health and increase readiness to learn through health care access, advocacy, and programs.” The independent 501c3 nonprofit organization supports 15 district-wide Wellness Centers and a variety of programs focused on preventative care, oral screenings and referrals, healthy living habits, mental health services and more.
Wellness Center leaders collaborate on student health
School-based managers and clinicians from Los Angeles school-based Wellness Centers learned best practices for student health at The L.A. Trust for Children’s Health Fall Learning Collaborative, October 19, 2019, at LAUSD headquarters. The semi-annual event focused on innovative approaches to HPV prevention, contraception awareness, and other urgent student health issues.
The meeting featured a detailed update on The L.A. Trust’s new Data xChange, an initiative that will link real-world clinical data with student performance data to gain insights and find new ways to improve outcomes.
Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The L.A. Trust, said new insights are needed to drive student healthcare in Los Angeles to the next level.
The ambitious initiative has finished its initial phase (gathering clinical data) and laid the groundwork for Phase 2, linking clinical data to student performance data. Rigorous privacy protocols for the data have been established.
Wellness Center leaders poured over reports from their Wellness Centers, including stats on unique patient visits, services provided and demographics. Dr. Ron Tanimura, director of Student Medical Services for L.A. Unified, and Dr. Sang Leng Trieu of The L.A. Trust, led the discussion on Wellness Center metrics and discussed the history and future of the network.
Sexual health
Dr. Kathleen Tebb of the University of San Francisco released results from “Health-E You/Salud iTu,” a computer-based, patient–centered contraception awareness program focused on Latina youth. The awareness program, deployed in partnership with The L.A. Trust, resulted in a substantial increase in clinical visits and a 117% increase in the use of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives among the target group. Version 2.0 of the program will switch genders and focus on young Latino males.
Heather Kun from the nonprofit “Fu*k Cancer,” unveiled the group’s HPV vaccination campaign, “Take Your Shot.” Kun noted than HPV causes 43,000 cancer deaths per year in the U.S., and all are preventable with the vaccine. The group is enrolling students to take the lead in an on-campus peer-to-peer campaign to get students vaccinated and save lives.
Engaging students
Two Wellness Center leaders shared how they involve students in their operations. Stephan Salazar, manager of adolescent education for Valley Community Healthcare, serving James Monroe High School in North Hills, discussed how his Student Advisory Board members intern at the clinic and provide advice for the operation and an informal support group for each other. Cassie Angus, Adult Ally at Fremont High School and program associate for its UMMA Community Clinic, also encourages student initiative, observing that “the best way to lead kids is to let kids lead themselves.”
The half-day conference included a briefing on school health integration by Dr. Rebecca Dudovitz of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and an update on upcoming School Well-Being Centers presented by Frances Valdez and Gloria Velasquez, organization facilitators for Student Medical Services at Los Angeles Unified.