ACTION Health Center

The Marion County Health Department's goal of providing comprehensive health services to local youth is realized every day through the operation so the A.C.T.I.O.N. (Adolescent Care Team In Our Neighborhood) Center.

The center's major program activities provide community outreach and education in a non-judgmental, flexible and respectful setting. It offers “adolescent-friendly” care for Marion County youth, and has become a well-known and highly regarded resource for young people who need one-stop shopping of health services.

The center continues to provide a variety of services to area schools, including the operation of four school-based health clinics, individual and group counseling, technical assistance, conflict resolution training, and consultation services to school personnel. The four clinics, located at John Marshall Middle School, Emmerich Manual High School, Arlington High School and Crispus Attucks Middle School, enable the A.C.T.I.O.N. Center to effectively reach many adolescents.

The A.C.T.I.O.N. Center clinic has become a highly requested clinical experience for student nurses, physicians, and master's students. The center's extensive outreach and education activities include health fairs, educational programs, STD education, and prenatal and parenting classes.

The continued expansion of services offered, in conjunction with the staff's quality and professionalism, has resulted in an increase in the number of adolescents who benefit from the center's care.

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE at the A.C.T.I.O.N. Center

Anger Control

Anger Control groups target youth between the ages of 12-21. These programs assist youth in reducing the disproportionate risk of becoming victims or perpetuators of violence. Groups are run in six to eight week cycles. Please call for an appointment.

Mentors

The Mentors Support Group will assist youth in developing the skills they need to establish a strong relationship with their children. (Men taking ownership and responsibility seriously).

Parenting Classes

Teen Information Parenting Series (T.I.P.S.) teaches pregnant and parenting teens the basic skills and information about parenting, nurturing, discipline, child health and nutrition.

Community Service Work/Counseling

Community Service Counseling is offered to young adults who are in need of completing community service hours as well as counseling. Participants are eligible based on court referrals only. Activities include counseling, workshops and office assistance.

Depression Screening Committee

Provides screening and education on depression to the community for national depression screening in October.

Postpartum Depression (Baby Blues)

Educate community and health providers on postpartum depression as well as support groups and counseling for mothers.

Speakers Bureau

Provides speakers for educational purposes to local agencies, community centers and schools. Informative presentations are provided on a wide-range of topics including, but not limited to, suicide, anger management, sexually transmitted diseases, stress management, substance abuse education, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect and adult abuse.

Safe Sitter Program

The safe sitter program provides adolescents with education and training to become responsible sitters.

Drug Awareness Education Program

The Drug Awareness Education Series (D.A.E.'S) is a program designed to address the physiological and psychological effects of substance use. This seven-week program is specifically designed to teach adolescents the serious effects of addiction use and abuse. Topics covered in the series include addiction, drug use and abuse, physiological/psychological effects of drugs, different classifications of drugs, and recovery, relapse and sobriety.

Prenatal Substance Use Prevention Program

This program offers a variety of education, prevention and intervention services to clients to prevent birth defects, low birth weight, premature births and other problems associated with prenatal substance use.