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Student Health Services

At MHS, we seek to educate the whole child. We care about providing comprehensive health and wellness programs for our students. These include free medical and dental care.

Student Health Services

MHS provides cost-free medical, dental, and psychological services to students. We do this through top-notch staff and state-of-the-art facilities, including a 40-bed health center, three school nurse clinics, and three dental clinics. A licensed social worker coordinates student health services. This person connects students to all health services available to them.

Female dentist using a toy to show two young Milton Hershey School students how to brush teeth.

Learn more about the health and wellness services offered to our students.

Medical

Milton Hershey School’s medical staff includes the following experts:

  • Pediatricians
  • Registered nurses
  • Certified nursing assistants
  • Registered dietitians
  • A pre-enrollment coordinator
  • Staff assistants
  • A medical claims analyst
  • A health systems manager

This team provides medical care for students. They are offered:

  • 24/7 at the Health Center
  • Week days at the Copenhaver Medical Clinic
  • Weekdays in each school building

Our list of services is comprehensive and includes:

  • Health screenings
  • Physicals/sports assessments
  • Vaccinations
  • Health education
  • Distribution of medications

Dental

Milton Hershey School’s dental staff includes the following experts:

  • Dentists
  • An orthodontist
  • Dental hygienists
  • Dental and orthodontic assistants
  • An office secretary

We offer full dental services to MHS students. We also work to educate and inform. Our goals include:

  • Providing education about proper daily oral hygiene
  • Educating students about nutrition
  • Emphasizing cavity prevention
  • Addressing oral disease and tooth decay. This improves the students’ overall oral health.

Nutrition

Milton Hershey School’s nutrition staff includes the following experts:

  • Registered dietitian/nutritionists
  • Overall medical team (support role)

Our nutrition staff works closely with the medical team. Their goal is to support students that may benefit from nutrition services.

The nutritionists provide, to select students, services such as:

  • Nutrition assessments
  • Diet suggestions
  • Counseling
  • Food, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle education

Nutritionists partner with Food Services staff to promote healthy eating. We focus on foods that provide a variety of nutrients.

Psychological Support

Milton Hershey School’s Psychological Services team’s goal is to help students achieve happiness and success. Our psychological services staff includes:

  • Psychologists
  • Psychotherapists
  • Behavioral specialists
  • Mental health workers

These credentialed experts help students in a variety of ways. They provide students a realistic knowledge of their strengths. Students consider academic, social, emotional, and physical strengths.

Our complete services include:

  • Single-student and group therapy
  • Evaluation
  • Counseling
  • Medication management
  • Crisis intervention

Counseling services are available to all students. Students are encouraged to seek counseling at their school buildings when needed. On occasion, parents/sponsors may wish to have a counselor speak with their child. Parents/sponsors are welcome to contact Psychological Services staff.

Behavioral Services

The MHS Behavioral Services staff includes the following roles:

  • Mental health workers (credentialed)
  • Crisis intervention team

Behavioral Services staff members provide support for students. They direct skill-building to promote positive behavior. After-school programs extend these academic, social, and self-management skills.

Mental health workers provide individual students with skills development. This support improves student behavior in school and in student homes. We work to preserve the learning environment of the classroom. For disruptive or upset students, Skills Centers provide a temporary placement and learning opportunity.

The Crisis Intervention Team is another group that supports students. This group provides behavioral support to struggling students. Therapeutic camps are offered during the summer. These camps help students build social and emotional skills. All adults who work closely with students are offered consultations and training.

Social Work Support

The Social Work program provides a variety of services to students. Licensed social workers offer the following:

  • Transition services (to help students locate medical, counseling, and specialized educational programs)
  • Psychosocial assessments
  • Assistance with public service programs (cash assistance, medical assistance, and Social Security benefits)

Social workers work to ensure students’ legal guardian status are honored. They are the link between the school and outside entities, including:

  • Child welfare agencies
  • Families
  • Courts to assure that students’ legal guardian status is honored

Some students have a disability or special need (outlined in an Accommodation/ADA Plan). Social workers are part of the team that ensures students the assistance they need.

Milton Hershey School health and wellness programming for students

By the Numbers

During the 2021-22 school year, Milton Hershey School facilitated:

  • 1,636 eye glasses for students
  • 25,467 visits to MHS health clinics
  • 14,044 visits to MHS dental services
  • 3,501 immunizations administered

Houseparents are critical in connecting their students with the care they need. Learn about their important role in each student’s life beyond health and wellness.

Read about Home LifeReview Religious Programs

Milton Hershey School nurses show an MHS student how to take a teddy bear's temperature. Health and wellness programming for students.

Health and Wellness Confidentiality

The Student Health Services program respects student privacy. Information is shared on a limited basis. For every situation, we consider each student’s need for privacy, others’ “need to know,” and applicable law.

A student gains more voice in his or her privacy as he or she ages. Student Health Services keeps parents/sponsors informed about serious health concerns.

Explore the Health Center

Drag to see a 360-degree view of the Milton Hershey School Health Center. Then, click to engage with interactive content.

A view of supplies in the Milton Hershey School Health Center.

Sensitive Issues

At times, a student may feel unable to discuss an issue with family. These might include issues of sexuality, birth control, pregnancy, and sexually-transmitted diseases. The student’s request for privacy is respected in such situations. The student will be encouraged to understand a parent’s/sponsor’s general concern. We will help them develop the ability to communicate effectively.

Parents/sponsors who are uncomfortable discussing sensitive issues with their children are encouraged to contact Student Health Services.

Comprehensive Dental Services Brighten Smiles

From top-notch staff to state-of-the-art facilities, MHS students’ health and wellness are just as important as their education and home life. Among some of the dental services MHS provides are education about proper daily oral hygiene, cavity prevention, and overall oral health.

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Milton Hershey School does not discriminate in admissions or other programs and services on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religious creed or disability. Read important MHS policies on equal opportunity and diversity, equal employment opportunity, and more.