COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, GROUPS REVIVE FINANCIALLY AILING CLINIC.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

GRANADA HILLS - Nearly a year after closing because of county budget cuts, a community clinic at Kennedy High School officially reopened Tuesday thanks to the efforts of local groups and businesses.

The reopening of the clinic, which targets North Valley students and low-income families without health insurance, is good news for Arleta resident Jessica Irias and her family.

``They give good help here,'' said Irias, who works but doesn't have health insurance for her four children, who range in age from 5 to 11. ``I'm so glad they are here.''

The clinic, which has been operating on a limited basis since last month, is staffed by a medical director and office personnel from El Proyecto del Barrio, an Arleta-based community services agency that runs two health centers and two school-based clinics.

Kaiser Permanente donated $5,000 in equipment and began providing basic health screenings and sports physicals June 4, using 18 medical school residents working Tuesday afternoon rotations.

And Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and his health deputy, Ressie Roman, arranged to have the county donate the existing clinic furniture and medical supplies.

The clinic is one of three school-based clinics in local District A, which covers Los Angeles Unified School District facilities in Chatsworth, Granada Hills and other Northwest Valley communities. The clinic was initially funded by the county and opened in 1997, serving about 12 to 15 students a day and, often, whole families without health insurance.

Now the clinic will serve 14 North Valley schools and will be open 20 hours a week. Officials estimate that 4,000 students will be seen annually for medical screenings and treatment of minor illnesses.

Also, about 10,000 students will be seen for mental and behavioral health services, including diagnosis of depression and learning disabilities.

``The real work of the clinic is helping the uninsured,'' said Sheila Flom, lead resident at the clinic.

She added that early diagnosis and treatment of conditions ranging from asthma to diabetes can mean fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations at taxpayers' expense.

Janis Lake, a registered nurse with District A, recalled how one 6-year- old child was diagnosed at one of the school-based clinics with a badly diseased eye; his mother had no health insurance and delayed seeking medical help. Timely intervention by the clinic's doctors saved the child's eye.

Flom also said clinic visits for routine matters such as physical exams give shy teenagers an entry point to discuss more serious health concerns, such as sexually transmitted diseases.

``A lot of kids use their sports physical as their ticket in to talk about STDs and other things that are bothering them,'' she said.

But officials said more help is still needed. The clinic would like to be able to provide prescription medications at no charge to the students. Most students cannot afford to purchase medications on their own, and as a result, go without treatment, even after their condition has been diagnosed.

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com

THE FACTS

The Kennedy School Based Clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Fridays for family resource services. Health care services are offered from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. The clinic is at 11254 Gothic Ave., Granada Hills. For more information, call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Dreayn Perkins, 11, of North Hills gets a height measurement as part of an exam at the Kennedy School Based Clinic, reopened with support from the community and local businesses.

(2) Kaiser Dr. Sheila Flom examines Alejandra Hurtado, 11, of Panorama City at the Kennedy School Based Clinic.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

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THE FACTS (see text)