Thanks to a $5,754,118 grant announced as part of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s continued investment in Ohio’s Appalachian communities, the Adena Regional School District and Adena Health are partnering to develop the new Warrior Wellness A center will be opened.
The Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, announced by Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted, is an investment of more than $64 million and includes dozens of projects to improve access to health care in 36 communities in 20 counties in Ohio’s Appalachian region. It is. This is the largest investment in school health services in Ohio.
In partnership with Adena Health, the Adena Regional School District will establish the Warrior Wellness Center at the district’s new playground complex. The facility will include a variety of health, wellness and social services to serve Adena Local students as well as school staff and the community at large.
The Wellness Center will include a newly constructed primary health clinic in addition to a pharmacy, community wellness and activity center, and offices for behavioral health and other community service organizations. An on-site walking track provides year-round exercise opportunities for local residents. On-site primary care clinical services are supported five days a week through Adena Health and staffed by primary care providers and support staff.
The Appalachian Community Grant is a groundbreaking investment for the Adena School District and community. Focusing on health and wellness while fostering economic growth and development is critical to our long-term success.
“Adena Health is proud to be the partner of choice for Adena Local Schools’ school-based health and wellness initiatives and to serve underserved areas of the county,” said Adena Chief Executive John Gavis, M.D. We are proud to offer a new access point for primary care.” Regional Partnership Health Director. “Changes that impact current and future generations are monumental. It is a great honor to be able to make a difference in caring for our communities, and we look forward to this deeper relationship.” .”
This grant proposal was developed by Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus on behalf of the Appalachian Children’s Coalition to ensure children receive the care they need in the place they spend most of their time: at school. New or expanded services, including primary care, behavioral health, and preventive care, will reach approximately 375,000 youth, families, and community members. Each project is different based on the needs of the community.
“We appreciate Governor DeWine’s commitment to the health of children in the Appalachian region and are excited to lead the effort to provide local health services that meet their needs,” said the Appalachian Children’s Coalition. said Executive Director Dr. Randy Leight. . “For many children and families, a lack of access to local health services has a negative impact on their health and education. The school-based clinics and services developed as part of this program are desperately needed. We share Governor DeWine’s commitment to children, and we know that the many partners in this effort do too.”
Schools play an important role in improving children’s health and well-being. According to the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance, more than 150 traditional school-based health centers are operating or under development in Ohio. The project will open 16 new school-based health centers, along with mobile care services, behavioral health services, dental services, and mobile vision services.
To ensure the seamless implementation of many projects and the continued success of these initiatives and investments, this project includes technical assistance support from Nationwide Children’s. Nationwide Children’s operates 17 school-based primary care clinics in central Ohio, partnering with the State of Ohio, health care providers, nonprofit funders, school nurses, and school districts across the state. The project primarily supports the development of school-based health programs in more than 38 schools. County of Appalachia.
“We know that when children are healthy, live in safe and stable environments, and have access to the resources they need, they can reach their full potential in the classroom,” said Senior Director of School Health Services. said Editor-in-Chief Mary Kay Irwin. For children nationwide. “By partnering with schools, we help many children receive critical care they otherwise wouldn’t receive. If you want to improve the health of all children, We must work together to meet families where they are.”
This unprecedented $64 million investment in schools and community health is part of the state’s $500 million regional grant program announced in 2022, Build Ohio – Small Communities – Big Impact – Plan for Appalachia. Department. The program is administered by the Appalachian Governor’s Office. Within the Ohio Department of Development.
About Adena Local School District: Adena Local Schools is a K-12 public school located in southeastern Ohio. We pride ourselves on being a rural school district that provides innovative educational opportunities for our students and community.
About Adena Health: Adena Health is an independent, not-for-profit, community-managed health care organization with a mission of “Serving Our Communities” for more than 125 years. Adena Health, a regional economic revitalizer, is comprised of more than 4,200 employees, including more than 200 physicians and 150 advanced healthcare providers. With a total of 341-bed hospitals, community health centers, urgent and urgent care services, and primary and specialty care practices, Adena Health spans nine counties in south-central and southern Ohio through a network of more than 40 locations. Serving more than 400,000 residents. . The company’s hospitals include the 266-bed Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe and three 25-bed critical access hospitals: Adena Fayette Medical Center at Washington Court House; Adena Greenfield Medical Center in Greenfield; Adena Pike Medical Center in Waverly; Adena Health’s specialty services include orthopedics and sports medicine, heart and vascular care, pediatrics and women’s health, and oncology services.
About Appalachian Children’s Coalition: Appalachian Children’s Coalition (ACC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of children throughout Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region. With a mission to improve the lives of children through collaborative advocacy and strategic investments, ACC has built impactful partnerships since her 2020. These partnerships have enabled us to direct resources to a robust support infrastructure tailored to the unique needs of children in our communities. ACC’s efforts focus on behavioral health workforce development, preventive education, school-based health services, and community response to comprehensively address the diverse needs of children in the communities we serve. . Acting as an advocate for those who serve children, ACC is committed to ensuring that all children in Ohio’s Appalachian region have equitable access to resources for their overall development and well-being. Masu.
About Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Ranked in the top 10 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 Best Children’s Hospitals list, Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest independent nonprofit pediatric health systems. Nationwide Children’s is home to the most robust school health services program in the nation. Nationwide Children’s partners with the State of Ohio, health care providers, nonprofit funders, school nurses, and school districts across the state to develop school-based health programs in more than 38 counties, primarily in Appalachia. I am supporting. Nationwide Children’s has more than 14,000 staff members who provide state-of-the-art health management, preventive and rehabilitative care, and diagnostic treatments to more than 1.7 million patient visits annually.
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