Health
A primary goal of the Carver-VCU Partnership is to promote healthy lifestyles, as well as the physical and mental health of individuals and families in the Carver community.
Health and housing fair
An annual spring health and housing fair at the Commonwealth Cancer Institute in the Carver Community brings together VCU faculty, staff and students; community members; and area service providers:
- VCU’s School of Nursing has provided hearing, vision and blood pressure screenings.
- Doctors from the Commonwealth Cancer Institute have provided screenings for prostate and breast cancer.
- Students from VCU’s School of Dentistry have provided dental information and screenings.
- Students from VCU’s School of Pharmacy have provided blood pressure screenings and information on a variety of health issues.
- Additionally, a mixture of health, housing and safety information is available from numerous vendors and service providers around the metro-Richmond area.
The Carver Health Project
Originally funded by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the Carver Health Project was created by an interdisciplinary group of university faculty to provide access and support for a range of health services at Carver Elementary School. The goals of the program are based on the belief that accessible and efficiently coordinated health care, as well as relevant education and counseling services, will positively impact children’s overall health and school functioning.
An instructor from VCU’s School of Nursing serves part time as the health care coordinator at Carver Elementary School. She acts as the primary link between the elementary school and VCU by coordinating direct services for students, such as health and dental screenings, and social and psychological evaluations and services. Additionally, she provides health education workshops and consultations for teachers and students on topics such as stress management, dental hygiene, asthma management, hand washing and playground safety.
Other services provided by the health care coordinator have included:
- Free eyeglasses offered through the Lenscrafters’ Foundation Vision Van since 1999.
- Immunizations provided on site at Carver Elementary School through coordination with Bon Secours Health System’s Care-A-Van.
- Annual health screenings to children at Carver Elementary School conducted by students and faculty from VCU’s School of Nursing. Physicals also are provided for children as needed.
- At-risk prevention plans provided by VCU’s School of Social Work for children identified by teachers, school counselors or the school principal as being at risk due to academic or behavioral problems.
- Free testing and on-site individual and family therapy services provided by graduate students from VCU’s Center for Psychological Services and Development.
- Coordination for eligible Carver students to participate in a variety of Special Olympic events, including bowling, skating, and track and field.
Physical fitness
VCU’s Siegel Center fitness facility is open to all members of the Carver Area Civic Improvement League, including teachers at Carver Elementary School. Carver Elementary School students visit the VCU Stuart C. Siegel Center as part of their physical education classes