School-Based, Prevention-Oriented Clinics Help Two Austin Neighborhoods

Building a comprehensive cross-sector initiative to improve the health of children

In 1993 and 1994, a newly established group called the Austin Project (TAP) continued to develop a comprehensive, citywide integrated service strategy to improve outcomes for families and for children from birth to age 25.

TAP sought to reduce the incidence of major health-related problems — including substance abuse, teen pregnancy, school dropouts, low-birthweight infants and violence.

In 1996 and 1997, the Capital Area Training Foundation, a spinoff of TAP, helped start school-based pediatric health centers in two Austin neighborhoods. The centers had visiting nurses to provide universal access to preventive health care.

Key Results

  • TAP's 27-member community board approved a 20-year-plan.
  • After Austin's Empowerment Zone application was rejected by the federal government, TAP shifted its focus to neighborhood-based and resident driven projects.
  • The school-based health clinics recorded 328 visits by students between January and October of 1997.
  • During the first year, nearly 50 percent of the services the school-based pediatric health centers provided were preventive services such as immunizations and routine screenings.

Funding

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) supported the project with two grants totaling $99,930 between November 1993 and November 1997.

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