What is Children’s Wellness Week at Min No Aya Win Clinic?

Introduction

Squeezing in a health check-up for kids can be difficult during the busy school year. The Min No Aya Win Clinic on the Fond Du Lac reservation is providing families a Children’s Wellness Week.

Services Offered

The clinic is offering dental services, walk-in immunizations, and behavioral health resources for kids this week. Abby Danelski, the assistant dental coordinator, highlights the significant growth over the years.

“Why not have a focus for a week, when it’s not in time for school sessions and having where it just be about our youth all in one week? At one spot where they can do kind of a one-stop shop,” Danelski said.

She added, “We started the dental clinic. It’s our third year doing the dental exams. When we brought it to the other divisions that are part of Fond du Lac Human Services, they jumped on board. It’s just starting to grow.”

Event Duration

Medical Director, Dr. Charity Reynolds, states that they started offering all their services on Monday, July 22nd, and it will run through Thursday, July 25th this week.

Holistic Health Approach

“We’re also making sure that their whole health is being addressed. So we have our specific, which is dental. We have pharmacy to be able to give back and talk to pharmacy as well,” Dr. Reynolds said. “Social services, car seat safety, immunizations, if they need to be updated, they can walk in today and get those updated.”

Importance of Mental Health

Maintaining dental health, staying up to date on shots, even exercising and having a balanced diet are all essential parts of wellness, doctors say. Another key component is mental health. Kari Stroik, part of the behavioral health team, emphasizes the importance of building mental health skills for kids before they head back to school.

“This week we’re bringing awareness to back to school anxiety and anxiety that happens with our youth, primarily peaking after COVID,” Stroik said.

She continues, “So we’re bringing resources to not only the kids for coping skills to deal with the anxiety related symptoms, but also resources to help parents and guardians to support the children with their anxiety. Utilize the resources that are available to help the kids get off to school in a good way.”

Further Information

For more information about Children’s Wellness Week, you can read more here. Also, for other stories about wellness, you can read more here.

For Related Stories: Fond du Lac Reservation Health Wellness William Lien