CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Celebrating 10 years of collaboration in school-based health care delivery, Cleveland Metropolitan School District and MetroHealth System leaders have opened three school wellness clinics.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony held just outside the Glenville High School Wellness Center, CMSD CEO Dr. Warren Morgan told attendees that the opening of the clinic supports three of CMSD’s new core values: equity and He said he emphasizes inclusivity, student and community focus, care and well-being. .
“Because if we are not healthy and sound, we cannot educate scholars,” Dr. Morgan said.
MetroHealth President and CEO Dr. Ayrsia Steed said the wellness clinics at Glenville, Mound and Clara Westrup preschools will help close healthcare gaps in Cleveland.
“We improve health care outcomes by bringing health care directly into the communities where patients live, work, play, and learn,” Dr. Steed said.
Services offered at the Wellness Clinic include:
- Annual health checkup
- vaccination
- Mental/behavioral health therapy
- Chronic care for asthma and diabetes
- general dental treatment
Dr. David Margolius, director of public health for the city of Cleveland, said student attendance improves when medical services are available in schools.
“They do better in school, and their high school graduation rates go up,” Dr. Margolius says. “Families don’t have to take as much time off from work, and parents are becoming more involved.”
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 awarded nearly $4.5 million to MetroHealth’s School Health Program in spring 2022 to renovate and expand these wellness centers and add new health services across the district.
Construction and capital expenditure management is coordinated with the Ohio Department of Education and Department of Health. Additional funding is available through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund.
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