Gov. Mike Easley, D-N.C., issued the following proclamation:
WHEREAS, physical and mental health care is immeasurably important to the overall well being of the youth in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, optimal physical and mental health of our students leads to optimal academic achievement; and
WHEREAS, all youth in North Carolina deserve access to comprehensive health care; and
WHEREAS, school-based and school-linked health centers provide a vital, necessary, and important link in a health care network within many communities across the state of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, 50 school-based and school-linked health centers in North Carolina provide accessible, affordable, quality health care and health education that improves the lives of young people and their families; and
WHEREAS, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services 28 of these centers, funded partially by the state of North Carolina, greatly impact the health safety net system in our state as 11,653 students, who would not access traditional health care providers, utilized these centers during the past fiscal year for a total of 15,940 medical visits, 10,041 preventive visits, 9,074 behavioral/mental health visits, 2,258 nutrition visits and 29,323 nursing visits; and
WHEREAS, these centers positively impact the economy by reducing emergency room visits, by decreasing parental absences from work, and by increasing early identification and treatment of disease, thus preventing more expensive treatment at a later date; and
WHEREAS, school-based and school-linked health centers are supported in many communities by parents, teachers, school administrators, and other concerned citizens;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL F. EASLEY, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim the week of February 19-25, 2006 as 'NC ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL-BASED/SCHOOL-LINKED HEALTH CENTERS WEEK' in North Carolina and urge all our citizens to recognize the role of local school-based and school-linked health centers in improving the health and well being of all youth in the state of North Carolina.
MICHAEL F. EASLEY
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this second day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand and six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
