YOUR HEALTH ON YOUR TERMS

The many services of Garfield’s Teen Health Center.

By Imbie Jones

Medical care, nutritional services and mental health counseling are just a few things the teen health center provides! The Garfield Teen Health Center (GTHC) is located on the first floor of Garfield to the left of the main office in room 102. The office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The THC is operated by Seattle children’s staff and is sponsored by Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, Seattle Public Schools and King County’s Public Health Department. The Health center provides lots of different services, ALL free to Garfield students due to the funding from the Cities of Seattle’s Families and Education levy. The THC is a safe space and judgment-free zone where teens can feel comfortable talking about personal issues. When many teens find topics like sexual or mental health awkward or taboo to talk about, extensive information is made accessible and free at the Teen Health Center. Upon entry, the office immediately feels very inviting. There are lots of signs, posters and brochures around the room available to students to learn about a variety of health-related issues, or seek out additional resources. The Center makes an obvious effort to feel less like your typical doctor’s office. Inside the front door there is even a little table of grab and go’s like period products and condoms.