Pictured from left to right: Richlyn Burnham (NCHC), Yvette Colon (Right Street School), April Anderson-Brown (Luis Munoz Marin School), Lauren Cooke (Luis Munoz Marin School), Tim McMahon (DEA), Joanna Anderson (DEA), Ashley Shimabukuro (Maria L. Varisco Rogers Charter School), Dr. Pamela Clarke (NCHC), Councilman Anibal Ramos, David DeOliveira (Ridge Street School), Stephanie Forlo (Maria L. Varisco Rogers Charter School), Dr. Chidi Achebe (NCHC), Alexandria Massey (NCHC), Pastor Pablo (DEA), Nicole Johnson (Elliott Street School), Carmen Duran (Elliott Street School), Dr Adrienne Headley (NCHC).

      On March 8, 2019 several principals and administrative staff from four North Ward schools along with the Drug Enforcement Administration came to Newark Community Health Centers (NCHC) to discuss how we can better partner together to ensure the health of students in this community. In addition, NCHC discussed its new School-Connect program, whose primary goal is to be an extension of services for public and private schools in the areas where NCHC serves. The program hopes to be a source of support to fill the gaps whenever needed in the health education process. The vision of the program is to improve the health and socioeconomic disparities that affect a students’ ability to learn and assist in the efforts to optimize their education in these prime years of learning. The principals and administrative staff discussed many barriers each school was having to getting their students into care and how NCHC can help minimize these barriers for students and staff alike. The Drug Enforcement Administration discussed their efforts in the community includes the Cares Program, which assists with mitigating the negative affects experienced by a child’s exposure to a traumatic or critical event.