This is the letter that was sent to all the village Mayors and Trustees of Round Lake, Round Lake Heights, Round Lake Beach and Round Lake Park.
District 116 is taking the School Based Health Center show on the road looking for support from the villages that feed the school.
District 116 is taking the School Based Health Center show on the road looking for support from the villages that feed the school.
Dear Trustee,
The Truth in Healthcare Coalition is writing to you today because we are aware that, proponents of the School Based Health Center in Round Lake School District 116, will present their case for village support. The Truth in Healthcare Coalition would like to share some information with you, to give you a better grasp on this important issue. A representative of The Truth in Healthcare Coalition was in the audience on Monday evening, May, 14th and reported that the presentation raised several issues that we would like you to research.
In the presentation, the issue of potential taxpayer funding arose. The presenter was very clear that no tax dollars would be used for the School Based Health Center (SBHC). Note the change in name from School Based Clinics to School Based Health Centers. The SBHC accepts Medicaid funding and is also a recipient of Title X funding; both entities are totally taxpayer funded. Title X, created in 1970, specifically allocated for lower income families, is the only Federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related health services. By law, priority is given to persons in low income families and uninsured people, including those not eligible for Medicaid. By law, Title X funds may not be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning. However, we know that one fourth of Title X funds are allocated to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is the number one abortion provider in America.
On November 28th, 2011, the Round Lake School District held an open meeting to present the plans for the SBHC. Brenda Bannor was the presenter at this meeting and also at the May 14th, 2012 meeting. There were a few vital discrepancies. At the November 28th, meeting she made it clear that once a consent form was signed by a parent, he or she would not be notified when a child came to the clinic for mental health or reproductive issues. Of course this is true, because confidentiality is protected federally protected by law, regardless of age. On top of which, Illinois has no parental consent law for abortion.
There was also a discrepancy in the two talks on the sliding pay scale. Why are we even considering placing a clinic in the school? This is a duplication of services already provided by the County Health Departments and Emergency Rooms. Federal law mandates that, anyone coming into an emergency room, regardless of insurance or legality, must be treated. Everyone seeking medical care today, has a wait time, including those with insurance and those without insurance. The Coalition feels that school space should be utilized for academic programs.
At the beginning of Brenda's presentation, she mentions the ethnic makeup of the high school, identifying a largely Hispanic population. She then goes on to say that, while teen birthrates are going down nationwide, they are on the rise in District 116. After Brenda identified this increasing teen birthrate, she contradicted herself by saying that mental health issues are the number reason for visits to the SBHC. The mental health umbrella is large, as many young girls discovering an unplanned pregnancy, will say, "my parents will kill me if I tell them,” creating a mental health issue in the minds of SBHC proponents.
The typical strategy for implementing nationwide School Based Health Centers:
The Truth in Healthcare Coalition is writing to you today because we are aware that, proponents of the School Based Health Center in Round Lake School District 116, will present their case for village support. The Truth in Healthcare Coalition would like to share some information with you, to give you a better grasp on this important issue. A representative of The Truth in Healthcare Coalition was in the audience on Monday evening, May, 14th and reported that the presentation raised several issues that we would like you to research.
In the presentation, the issue of potential taxpayer funding arose. The presenter was very clear that no tax dollars would be used for the School Based Health Center (SBHC). Note the change in name from School Based Clinics to School Based Health Centers. The SBHC accepts Medicaid funding and is also a recipient of Title X funding; both entities are totally taxpayer funded. Title X, created in 1970, specifically allocated for lower income families, is the only Federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related health services. By law, priority is given to persons in low income families and uninsured people, including those not eligible for Medicaid. By law, Title X funds may not be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning. However, we know that one fourth of Title X funds are allocated to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is the number one abortion provider in America.
On November 28th, 2011, the Round Lake School District held an open meeting to present the plans for the SBHC. Brenda Bannor was the presenter at this meeting and also at the May 14th, 2012 meeting. There were a few vital discrepancies. At the November 28th, meeting she made it clear that once a consent form was signed by a parent, he or she would not be notified when a child came to the clinic for mental health or reproductive issues. Of course this is true, because confidentiality is protected federally protected by law, regardless of age. On top of which, Illinois has no parental consent law for abortion.
There was also a discrepancy in the two talks on the sliding pay scale. Why are we even considering placing a clinic in the school? This is a duplication of services already provided by the County Health Departments and Emergency Rooms. Federal law mandates that, anyone coming into an emergency room, regardless of insurance or legality, must be treated. Everyone seeking medical care today, has a wait time, including those with insurance and those without insurance. The Coalition feels that school space should be utilized for academic programs.
At the beginning of Brenda's presentation, she mentions the ethnic makeup of the high school, identifying a largely Hispanic population. She then goes on to say that, while teen birthrates are going down nationwide, they are on the rise in District 116. After Brenda identified this increasing teen birthrate, she contradicted herself by saying that mental health issues are the number reason for visits to the SBHC. The mental health umbrella is large, as many young girls discovering an unplanned pregnancy, will say, "my parents will kill me if I tell them,” creating a mental health issue in the minds of SBHC proponents.
The typical strategy for implementing nationwide School Based Health Centers:
- Creating an impression of need
- Making connections only with public officials and groups who already support the clinic
- Creating a blue ribbon committee packed with clinic supporters
- Making sure that only parents who back the clinic are included in focus groups
- If opposition surfaces against birth control and abortions, installing the clinic without them and then adding them after the clinic is established and the controversy dies down.
Round
Lake's feasibility study claims that interviews and focus groups
revealed widespread support for the SBBC, saying, "There is a will in
the community" and that there is "unanimous agreement of need." If this
is true, why does the study note that Reproductive health services and
education are needed, but they are not sure of the community’s support?
Most SBBC advocates use materials from two organizations: Advocates for Youth (formerly the Center for Populations Options) and SIECUS (The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States). Both Advocates for Youth and SIECUS are in the forefront of the movement against allowing abstinence programs to be a choice for those who want them.
Enclosed is the original November 28, 2011 short video of Brenda's presentation along with poignant questions from parents in the audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPUhn8Xk7RY
Bonnie Quirke, R.N.
Most SBBC advocates use materials from two organizations: Advocates for Youth (formerly the Center for Populations Options) and SIECUS (The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States). Both Advocates for Youth and SIECUS are in the forefront of the movement against allowing abstinence programs to be a choice for those who want them.
Enclosed is the original November 28, 2011 short video of Brenda's presentation along with poignant questions from parents in the audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPUhn8Xk7RY
Bonnie Quirke, R.N.
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