Barr said the district can request a one-year extension of the grant, as well as apply for funds to continue through another five-year grant. But Superintendent Diana Greene has not decided whether to do so.
Barr said the impact of losing the teen centers in particular, which provide free and confidential family planning services, pregnancy tests, sexually transmitted disease testing and condoms, among other things,"would be huge." Also, the centers are"teen-focused," staffed by nurses and health educators who take the time to talk to the teens. Without them, Barr said, teens would receive less education and resources and testing.
"People would not know they are infected. They would not get the treatment they need and could continue to pass them to others," Barr said."We would have a higher infection rate among our young people. They also wouldn’t receive support services, like counseling, that is such a critical piece in this work."