CATCH Program Begins at Stuyvesant

The Connecting Adolescents To Comprehensive Healthcare (CATCH) program was recently launched at Stuyvesant. It gives students free access to birth control and prevention tools such as pregnancy tests and Plan B. The program attempts to address “gaps in sexual health education in NYC public high schools,” according to Public Health Educator Alexandra Pamiloza.

The CATCH program began in 2011 with five pilot sites. Currently, there are 52 CATCH locations scattered around New York City that cover over 100 schools and 55 percent of high school students in New York City.

The program is entirely confidential and students can utilize it anytime at the nurse’s office. “In New York state, any adolescent of any age can access reproductive health services [through CATCH] without parental permission,” CATCH Project Director Pamella Haller said. Parents have the ability to opt their child out of the program.

CATCH also provides training to school nurses on how to use reproductive services such as pregnancy testing and emergency contraception for students who need them on-site. Training is conducted under a medical consultant who is experienced in reproductive health and family planning.

The program connects students with health educators who can teach them about sexual and reproductive health. Students are able to meet these educators to discuss whether they should get testing or receive referrals to outside clinics. The health educators plan to promote and discuss CATCH in Stuyvesant health classes in the upcoming months.