MASBHC held its annual Advocacy Day on Monday February 9th. The event was a success with MASBHC representatives from Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and the Eastern Shore visiting over 35 legislators. MASBHC was also thrilled to have our SBHC student representatives from Northwood High School participate in Advocacy Day this year. The legislators were very excited to hear firsthand from the students the benefits of a school-based health centers in their school and what it has meant to them.

The focus of MASBHC advocacy this year was to support a bill that would reorganize and update an existing state SBHC leadership council that was codified in 2002. Given the dramatic changes to our health care system, an update to the council was deemed necessary to better meet the needs of SBHC’s in Maryland. The bill was the Council for the Advancement of School Based Health Bill. This bill was sponsored by our legislative champions, Delegate Bonnie Cullison and Senator Rich Madaleno. MASBHC felt that it was critical to support this new bill because it would bring together the right people to ensure school based health centers are part of the emerging health and education reform efforts.

In March, the bill was heard in both the House and Senate committees. MASBHC was thrilled to have two students from Northwood High School return to Annapolis to testify in support of the bill when it was heard in the House committee.

MASBHC is very thrilled to let our members know that our advocacy efforts paid off and the Council for the Advancement of School Based Health bill has passed! MASBHC is so thankful for the wonderful leadership, efforts, and advocacy of Robyn Elliot and Public Policy Partners and the leadership and vision of our champions in the House and Senate – Delegate Cullison and Senator Madeleno!

Advocacy Night: Northwood High School Students with Delegate Cullison

Northwood Students after testifying in front of the House Committee along with Sapna Hencinski, MASBHC Project Manager, Donna Behrens, MASBHC Board Member, and representatives from the Montgomery County Health Department

Each year St. Frances Academy in Baltimore holds a Teacher vs Students Basketball game to kick off Homecoming Week. The Hallways to Health sponsored event has continued to be more and more successful each year, and this year was no exception with additional groups interested in participating. The event began during school hours but continued past dismissal and the majority of students stayed for the remainder of the event. The St. Frances Teacher vs. Student Basketball Game only allows those students that don’t participate on any of the St. Frances sports teams to join the student team. The game ended up in a very close game, with the teachers taking the win by a score of 54 to 52. The crowd was amped up by the cheerleaders that performed for both sides throughout game.

In addition, St. Frances teachers that are alumni of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and the Alpha Nu Omega Sorority performed a unity step after the basketball game!