Governor DeWine announces $64M to transform children's health services across Appalachia, Fairfield
Disclaimer: This article is referenced for informational purposes. It was originally published by the Highland County Press and is not created by the Adena Health team. You can find the original article here.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted Friday announced dozens of transformational projects that will significantly improve access to healthcare across many of Ohio's Appalachian communities.
As part of the new Appalachian Children's Health Initiative, more than $64 million in funding will be awarded to the Appalachian Children Coalition to support the creation or expansion of community- and school-based health clinics, the launch of healthcare-focused workforce development programs and more.
"Our vision for Ohio’s future is one where all Ohioans, no matter where they are from, have the opportunity to live up to their full potential," said Governor DeWine. "These projects will uplift and empower the people of Ohio’s Appalachian region for generations to come."
The funding will be divided among 28 projects that are expected to impact 61,000 students and 375,000 residents across 20 Appalachian counties. Partners include 34 school districts, a career technical school, an educational service center, and 16 healthcare partners. Expanded services will include comprehensive primary care, dental, vision and mental health services for children, families and communities.
“Expanding school-based healthcare is proven to significantly reduce barriers to accessing essential health services, leading to improved physical and mental health and academic outcomes for students,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “These investments will deliver better life and academic outcomes for students, benefiting families and the community.”
The project will also establish workforce training partnerships between schools and their associated health clinics to prepare the next generation of Appalachian healthcare professionals.
Local projects include the following:
• Fairfield Local School District (Highland), School-Based Health Center Award amount: $3,235,560.
In partnership with Highland Health Partners (HHP), Fairfield Local School District will build and open a school-based health center in the Fairfield Local School District to meet the health and wellness needs of students and families. Services will be provided through a mix of on-site and telehealth resources providing access to both comprehensive primary care, and mental and behavioral health resources, to decrease behaviors such as student tardiness and absenteeism.
HHP aims to engage external psychiatry and therapy services while exploring the incorporation of a new behavioral health service line within the organization to address the insufficient availability of local behavioral health services. HHP will link patients with Highland District Hospital as necessary for follow-up that best meets their needs.
Additionally, Fairfield Local will add classroom space to support workforce development and STEM education expansion and will be leveraged as an extension of the established career readiness program.
• Greenfield Exempted Village, Southeastern Local School District, Waverly City Schools, Wellston City Schools, Zane Trace Local Schools (Ross, Highland, Pike, Jackson), Mobile Health Program Award amount: $232,965.
Adena Health System will expand the scope of services its mobile health program delivers to Greenfield Exempted Village, Southeastern Local School District, Waverly City Schools, Wellston City Schools and Zane Trace Local Schools to deliver critically needed services to families throughout the multi-county service region.
The Adena mobile unit is equipped with the necessary equipment for both primary care and dental services, removing barriers to care and fostering a proactive approach to healthcare. A full-time nurse practitioner, one driver/registrar combined role, and one full-time community health worker will be added to the mobile program.
Additionally, shore plugs will be installed at each district partner, including existing mobile health district partners, to extend the life of the mobile health unit to ensure sustainable operations well into the future. Linkages of care will be intentionally conducted for patients with needs beyond the initial mobile unit appointment.
Also receiving grants were:
• Adams County Ohio Valley School District (Adams), Telehealth and Mobile Unit Program Award amount: $1,337,328.
• Athens City Schools, Warren Local Schools, Wellston City Schools, Chillicothe City Schools, Union Scioto Local, Adena Local (Athens, Jackson, Washington, Ross), Mobile School-Based Eye Care Program Mobile Vision Program-Athens award amount: $334,300; Mobile Vision Program-Ross award amount: $240,700.
• HealthSource of Ohio (Brown), Community Health Center and Workforce Training Center Expansion Award amount: $3,622,000.
• Scioto Valley Local School District (Pike, Scioto, Jackson, Adams, and Ross) Scioto Valley School-Based Health Center Award amount: $1,695,701.
• Adena Local School District (Ross) Warrior Wellness Center Awards amount: $5,754,118.
• Chillicothe City School District (Ross) School-Based Health Center Award amount: $662,130.
• Huntington Local School District (Ross) School-Based Health Center Award amount: $556,290.
• Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center (Ross, Pickaway) School-Based Health Center Award amount: $524,250.
• Union-Scioto Local School District (Ross) School-Based Health Center Award amount: $605,610.
Complete descriptions of these and other projects can be found at: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHIOGOVERNOR/2024/03/21/fil….
“By addressing the holistic health needs of students and families, this project exemplifies the transformative power of community-driven solutions,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “I commend the Appalachian Children Coalition and their partners for bringing together diverse stakeholders to create a healthier future for Appalachian Ohio.”
Funding for the Appalachian Children's Health Initiative is being awarded through the larger Appalachian Community Grant Program, which is investing $500 million into Ohio's 32-county Appalachian region. This unprecedented investment was spearheaded by the DeWine-Husted Administration with support from the Ohio General Assembly. More than $350 million in remaining funding will be awarded in coming weeks to further revitalize the region and create an abundance of new opportunities for future generations.
Approximately $80 million in Appalachian Community Grant Program funding was previously encumbered to several shovel-ready projects in March 2023 and for planning grants to cover costs associated with project planning and design. The program is administered by the Governor's Office of Appalachia within the Ohio Department of Development.
