Hurricane Disaster Response by School-Based Health Centers

Norman A. Dolch
Institute for Human Services and Public Policy
Louisiana State University in Shreveport

Daniel L. Meyer
Maine-Dartmouth Family Practice Medicine Program
Dartmouth Medical School

Angel V. Huval
St. Martin Parish School-Based Health Center
St. Martin Parish School System

St. Martin Parish School-Based Health Center
St. Martin Parish School System

Citation: Dolch, Norman A., Daniel L. Meyer and Angel V. Huval (2008). "Hurricane Disaster Response by School-Based Health Centers." Children, Youth and Environments 18 (1): 422-434. Retrieved [date] from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/

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Abstract

In the summer of 2005, Hurricane Katrina displaced residents from the city of New Orleans and the eastern coastal area of Louisiana, and a month later, Hurricane Rita displaced many residents from the western coastal areas of Louisiana. The middle coastal area of Louisiana served as refuge for many evacuees, and a unique story documenting the health care provided to children emerged from the School- Based Health Center (SBHC) of St. Martin Parish. Quarterly reports filed by the program with the Louisiana Office of Public Health for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years document an increase in visits and the cost of care provided. Qualitative data document the clinics’ experiences responding to the evacuee children and their families. Among the lessons learned was that the presence of a SBHC facilitated the evacuees’ transitions and was an integral part of the  community response to displaced students and their families.

Keywords: Hurricane Katrina, school-based health centers, disaster response, children, evacuees, infrastructure, health care