What started out as a gesture of generosity has begun to blossom into a partnership between Saint Joseph’s Medical Center and the Charter School of Educational Excellence in Yonkers (CSEE).
Several months ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Yonkers, CSEE student athletes brought food and donations to Saint Joseph’s for its front-line health care staff. Since then, the hospital and school have started working together on several fronts. Specifically:
Saint Joseph’s will be doing sports physicals for CSEE student-athletes. The hospital’s Maxwell Institute for substance abuse prevention for adults and kids will offer programs for CSEE along with behavioral health services through St. Vincent’s Hospital in Harrison.
CSEE is connecting students’ families with Saint Joseph’s Family Health Center to create a “medical home” for families by providing structured, regular and preventive health care.
Saint Joseph’s is providing community service opportunities for CSEE students such as the recent mobile food pantry where students volunteered to help distribute food to local families.
The Charter School and Saint Joseph’s are discussing developing a health track for CSEE students interested in health education and healthcare careers.
“Saint Joseph’s Medical Center is very proud to partner with the Charter School of Educational Excellence. As part of our commitment of serving the local community, we are exploring a number of exciting ways that we can work together in an ongoing partnership with this outstanding educational institution,” said Michael Spicer, President and CEO of Saint Joseph’s Medical Center.
“Our partnership with Saint Joseph’s will have endless benefits to our school, community, and most importantly our student body. Our students and parents will have access to the hospital resources including obtaining physicals and health related workshops. This partnership will allow our students to provide service to their community through the many community events and initiatives that Saint Joseph’s offers within the community. We look forward to our families taking advantage of this great opportunity for years to come,” said Eduardo LaGuerre, Founder and Board Chairman of the Charter School of Educational Excellence.