Press Releases

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Hosts Community Back-to-School Health Fair

Hospital reminds parents/guardians that back-to-school preparedness will help children succeed

Aug 24, 2018

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County hosted a free community Back-to-School Health Fair today to encourage parents and guardians to prepare their children for academic readiness. More than 20 health vendors provided services, educational materials, and other resources on important health issues that affect children, families, and the community.

Services included dental screenings and vision and hearing tests. Parents and guardians had the opportunity to schedule appointments for physicals and immunizations for their kids. Children of all ages—including infants and toddlers—participated in the family-friendly event, enjoying face-painting, other entertainment, healthy snacks, free giveaways, and more.

“NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County is constantly looking for ways to address the health care needs of our community,” said Chief Executive Officer Sheldon P. McLeod. “Knowledge is power, and the information provided at our Back-to-School Health Fair helped support families and children with connections to resources to start the new school year healthy and happy.”

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County also offers parents and guardians 7 health tips to help children get ready for the school year, including advice on vaccination requirements, flu shots, nutrition, sleep, setting routines, and limiting screen time on computers and cellphones.

“Studies show that healthy students have better attendance and perform better in school,” said David Stevens, MD, chief of ambulatory care. “Hosting this health fair allowed NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County to demonstrate our commitment to the community to help educate families about health and wellness.”

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County offers expert pediatric and adolescent health services at little or no cost. For more information about services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, visit /kingscounty/our-services/child-teen-health/.

Contact: Keisha Gilles, 718-245-3910

About NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County is a 639-bed acute care teaching hospital located in Central Brooklyn. Among our highly specialized programs are a Level I Trauma Center, Pediatric Emergency Room, Level 3 Perinatal Center, Heart Health Center, Stroke Center, Sickle Cell Program, Behavioral Health Center, and Diabetes Education Center of Excellence. Many of our programs have received national recognition, including our cardiac, stroke, and diabetes services. The hospital offers a broad array of primary and specialty care, including practices in neuroscience, orthopedics, urology, and cardiology. Annually, our ambulatory care clinics see well over 500,000 visits, and more than 150,000 visits in the Behavioral Health outpatient program, in addition to close to 23,000 inpatient discharges. NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County has played a major role in providing health care to vulnerable populations in Brooklyn since 1831, and is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the nation. For more information, visit nychealthandhospitals.org/KingsCounty.

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.