Schools on the front lines: School based health centers amidst COVID-19.

School based health centers (SBHCs) are often at the front line of medical and mental health services for students in the schools they serve. Citywide school closures in New York City in March 2020 and ongoing social distancing procedures resulted in significant changes in SBHC services as well as access to these services. Furthermore, the combination of COVID-19 related stressors and the increased likelihood of adverse childhood events experienced by urban youth creates conditions for the exacerbation of mental health concerns among youth in metropolitan areas. The following article will explore the role of SBHCs as community agents focused on prevention and reduction of mental health concerns prior and during the current pandemic, as well as existing health disparities experienced by urban youth populations. The authors will also discuss research examining mental health concerns already present in global populations affected by COVID-19 as it may foreshadow the challenges to be faced by U.S. urban youth. Lastly, the authors describe recommendations, practice implications, and opportunities for preventative strategies and therapeutic interventions in school based health settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

School-based health centers during academic disruption: Challenges and opportunity in urban mental health.

School based health centers (SBHC) provide healthcare services to youth and their families. In response to the global health crisis from COVID-19, schools' closures have impacted the access to vital services during times of increased need for physical and mental healthcare. Youth of minority racial and ethnic backgrounds living in urban settings face compounding factors including adverse childhood events, economic disadvantages, and barriers to healthcare. The mental health response of SBHCs in New York City as it relates to population specific factors such as family supports, economic considerations, and healthcare correlates is explored. The role of school based health centers and recommendations for interventions addressing mental health concerns in youth during COVID-19 are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Report of Health Behavior Modification Among Latinos Diagnosed With Multiple Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and type II diabetes are leading cardiovascular risk factors in the United States, and Latinos are disproportionately burdened by these chronic health conditions. The extent to which Latinos overall and by language spoken at home report health behavior modification following diagnosis is poorly understood. METHODS: Our inclusion criteria included participants sampled in the 2011-2016 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who self-identified as Latinos, were 20 years of age or above, and reported a diagnosis of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia or diabetes (N=2027). We examined associations between the language spoken at home and report of adoption of 3 recommended health behaviors in the past year: weight loss, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and smoking cessation. Separate log-binomial models were fit to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) for each health behavior. RESULTS: Approximately one third (28%) of study participants had been diagnosed with diabetes and more than half reported a diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia (65%) or hypertension (60%). Most Latinos met the highest levels of smoking cessation criteria (82%), whereas less than a third met LTPA recommendations (29%) or attempted weight loss (24%) in the past year. Fully adjusted outcome specific models showed that exclusively speaking English at home was associated with a higher probability of reporting weight loss attempt and LTPA compared with Spanish only speakers, although only LTPA was statistically significant [weight loss PR: 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92, 1.65; LTPA PR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.37, 2.20; smoking cessation PR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.86, 1.01]. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide new evidence on patterns of behavioral modification in a population-based sample of Latinos diagnosed with chronic health conditions. Findings suggest the need to promote language and culturally relevant initiatives to increase the adoption of health-enhancing behaviors and improve chronic disease management among Spanish-speaking Latinos.