This month spotlights work at Albuquerque's ACE Leadership High School SBHC (http://leadershiphsn.org/ace/about/student-support/) where the nurse practitioner, Keith Haynie, collaborates with the food service provider NAMA (http://namacatering.com/school-menus-2/) to support students who have particular nutritional needs based on healthcare diagnoses. According to Keith, "early on we identified the need (based on health screenings) for better & healthier options for food and nutrition for our students. Much like many schools and youth populations, there are overwhelming levels of obesity, borderline hypertension, risk for hyperlipidemia and diabetes. In the school's 3rd year, and the SBHC's/SHAC's 2nd year, there was a decision made to find a different canteen option for the ACE student population. The administrative and financial staff came in contact with Ms. Jamie Vachio. Ms. Vachio is the owner/operator of Nama Catering. She met early on with myself (the SBHC provider), and the SHAC for her to provide her unique perspective on how to provide healthy options for our students."

ACE Leadership High School has a very intimate relationship with its students via Student Support Staff, Social Work Staff, & School Based Health Center staff. Nama Catering already prides itself in making all of its food options from "scratch," with whole foods, fruits and grains. If there are specific food needs from a student or staff member, these are relayed to Ms. Vachio directly and special options are created.

Does your SBHC meet with your school or district's food service provider? Think about how you can support your patients in this way!

This is our now regular monthly feature on SBHC highlights with a focus on ideas, practices, or activities that you may wish to use at your SBHC. For coming months, if you'd like to share a great practice from a New Mexico SBHC, please send your ideas to nancyrodrigueznmasbhc@gmail.com.