Health Care Centers in Schools

November 6, 2004
Capitol Health Center Helps “Pay it Forward”

In the 2000 movie “Pay it Forward” Kevin Spacey’s character Eugene Simonet asks his grade school class to come up with a project to help make a difference in the world. One of the students in his class, Haley Joel Osment, decides to help three people in trouble and then have each of them help three other people in order to keep paying it forward.

With that idea in mind, the Office of Public Health(OPH) began a community movement to help make a difference in our Baton Rouge community. Volunteers for “Pay it Forward” met Saturday morning on November 6th in the auditorium at Capitol High School.

The event was centered on community awareness about diabetes, syphilis, hypertension and HIV. Volunteers walked from door to door dropping off goody bags filled with information to help keep people healthy. Families were asked to spread the message to others.

As part of the awareness, free health screenings were available to anyone in the community. Health Care Centers in Schools nurse practitioner Tracy Parker participated by performing the screenings at the Capitol High Health Center.

“It was a great community service provided by OPH,” Parker notes. “This grassroots effort was well put together and I hope it will continue periodically.”

Tracy Parker, NP (second from left) and other volunteers prepare the registration table for free health screenings at the Capitol High Health Center.


	November 6, 2004 Capitol Health Center Helps “Pay it Forward” In the 2000 movie “Pay it Forward” Kevin Spacey’s character Eugene Simonet asks his grade school class to come up with a project to help make a difference in the world. One of the students in his class, Haley Joel Osment, decides to help three people in trouble and then have each of them help three other people in order to keep paying it forward. With that idea in mind, the Office of Public Health(OPH) began a community movement to help make a difference in our Baton Rouge community. Volunteers for “Pay it Forward” met Saturday morning on November 6th in the auditorium at Capitol High School. The event was centered on community awareness about diabetes, syphilis, hypertension and HIV. Volunteers walked from door to door dropping off goody bags filled with information to help keep people healthy. Families were asked to spread the message to others. As part of the awareness, free health screenings were available to anyone in the community. Health Care Centers in Schools nurse practitioner Tracy Parker participated by performing the screenings at the Capitol High Health Center. “It was a great community service provided by OPH,” Parker notes. “This grassroots effort was well put together and I hope it will continue periodically.” Tracy Parker, NP (second from left) and other volunteers prepare the registration table for free health screenings at the Capitol High Health Center.	Health Care Centers in Schools 7055 Glen Oaks Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70812