On-campus clinic offers much-needed care to kids

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004 | 10:37 a.m.

Hearing tests, immunizations and even dental services: Martinez Elementary School students will get it all, thanks to the generosity of more than two dozen community agencies, foundations and individuals.

The Martinez Health Academy was officially unveiled Monday at the Judson Avenue campus just off North 5th Street. The construction cost of the 1,200-square-foot, $500,000 addition was covered by Brad Burns, division president of Centex Homes.

Burns said he first learned about Martinez from Louise Helton, executive director of Communities in Schools of Southern Nevada.

"It's amazing what this school has managed to do for its kids," Burns said. "We couldn't pass up the chance to help."

Helton, whose group organized in March and is affiliated with a national organization, said Burns turned down her offer to name the new facility after him.

"Here's an example of someone doing something not for ego but for the purest reasons, the most honorable reasons," Helton said.

Communities in Schools, which matches up donors with schools in need, hopes to replicate the Martinez project at other Clark County campuses, Helton said.

Martinez Principal Patricia Hodges said the challenges faced by the school's students were evident when the campus opened five years ago. Of the school's 700 students, 20 percent are homeless and 90 percent qualify for free and reduced-priced meals. Many of the children have never visited a dentist nor had their hearing or eyesight checked.

"Children couldn't learn if they weren't eating, didn't have clothing and didn't have basic health needs met," Hodges said.

The school's staff spent countless hours scrambling to fill some of those needs, Hodges said.

"We begged, borrowed, pleaded, wrote grants -- after two years it took a toll," Hodges said. "I didn't have gray hair when we started all this."

Four campuses currently have on-site health centers, paid for with more than $2 million in grants from the Task Force for a Healthy Nevada, which distributes tobacco settlement money. Martinez is the first school to have a health clinic housed in its own building.

Elaine Wynn, chairwoman of Communities in Schools' board of directors and wife of casino developer Steve Wynn, addressed her comments at Monday's ceremony to the smallest members of the audience, the Martinez students.

"This is really about you guys," Wynn said. "We care about what you do with your future and how it all turns out."

The Martinez Health Academy includes examination rooms that will be staffed by volunteers from Clinic on Wheels and the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Dental services will be provided by Miles for Smiles, a nonprofit organization staffed by local dentists, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine.

After school hours, the facility will be turned over to Clark County Legal Services, which will provide pro bono assistance to parents of Martinez students. The Junior League of Las Vegas has taken responsibility for the "birthday closet," which is stocked with gifts and supplies for monthly parties for students.

"This is an outstanding example of what can be accomplished when people work together," said Marsha Irvin, superintendent of the district's northeast region, which includes Martinez.