Strengthening the safety net for adolescent health: Partners in creating realities out of opportunity

A school of nursing and a school-based health center staff at an alternativ e high school joined together to meet each other's mission for students. Th e overwhelming need within this student population can be met more effectiv ely through the collaboration of community resources. There was more than e nough work for both nursing students and the center staff, who quickly saw potential converted to reality. During two semesters, individualized learni ng experiences developed as the center expanded health services. Learning s ervice projects evolved for junior and senior baccalaureate nursing student s and for graduate nursing students in a family nurse practitioner program. Some services jointly planned and implemented were needs assessment, scree ning for eating disorders, a health fair, primary care training, mentoring, group work, and psychosocial research. The efforts of the mutual participa nts enabled a tighter safety net to protect the health of the high-risk ado lescents.