Student Health Program Wins Golden Bell Award
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SANTA ANA — A school district health-care program that uses a van to circulate among 10 elementary schools has won a state award that recognizes exemplary public school programs.
Earlier this month, the California School Boards Foundation gave the Santa Ana Unified School District a Golden Bell award for its Healthy Tomorrows program.
Out of 239 entries this year, 32 received Golden Bells.
Healthy Tomorrows, which focuses on preventive health care, provides children with dental care, medical exams and visits with social workers.
According to the school district, more than 600 children have received free dental care through the program, which in many cases provided their first visit to the dentist. Also, medical exams of approximately 2,000 students detected 300 cases of anemia.
The program, however, has been criticized by some school board members who believe it turns the schools into social service centers.
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