Campbell City School District gets state grant for new facility

A new 55,000 square foot health and community development facility will be constructed just south of the Campbell City School District elementary school building after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced a $10.5 million grant Friday morning at the school.

According to the state in a press release, the building will:

This unique ecosystem of programs and partners will provide access to food through an on-site food pantry, greenhouse, and composting facility; healthcare services that provide pediatric primary care and pediatric mental health counseling on-site and via telehealth; childcare that provides literacy-rich and developmentally appropriate curriculum that is aligned with Ohio’s Early Learning Standards; and workforce services and educational programming related to the medical field, including but not limited to medical coding, medical assistants, and other high-need and emerging areas of healthcare. Linkages to care at Akron Children’s will be available to students and families in each district.

The grant was part of the state’s new Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, where more than $64 million in funding was 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.

The effort announced Friday was part of the state’s $500 million commitment to the Appalachian area.

Additional grants will be announced in the next few weeks.

“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,” DeWine said. “These projects will uplift and empower the people of Ohio’s Appalachian region for generations to come.”

Several Mahoning Valley projects were announced in addition to Campbell’s.

They include, according to a state press release:

• In partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital, Bristol, Crestview, East Holmes, Mahoning Valley, Newton Falls, and Sebring School Districts will establish a mobile, in-person provider,and telehealth model of school-based healthcare. Each district designated a private clinical space for Akron Children’s use when on-site, allowing for efficient distribution, coordination,and management of services including necessary preventative care services. Akron Children’s will retain an advanced practice provider at the program launch to partner directly with the identified districts. The school provider will deliver telehealth and in-person clinical services for the district and student population. Locations will receive integrated telehealth equipment to streamline student access to care. In future phases, telehealth will be utilized to connect Akron Children’s Hospital primary and specialty practice providers directly to their patient population in and through school.

• In partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital, East Palestine City School District has designated a private, school-based clinical space in the high school and elementary school. Locations will receive equipment to facilitate comprehensive, in-person care as well as telehealth. A dedicated school health primary care provider will be recruited and retained at the program launch to partner directly with East Palestine City Schools. The provider will offer indirect and direct clinical services for the school district and student population and will work with the school nursing staff. Together they will leverage health and wellness policy, promotion, education, and access to direct healthcare services to help create healthy school environments for students, staff, and families across the district.

• In partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital, Warren City School District will establish a school-based health center to prioritize closing gaps in care for students with chronic health conditions, such as asthma and other chronic illnesses. The center will be located within Warren G. Harding High School, connecting to a fully operating pediatric practice that will serve as the central clinical location for the Akron Children’s care team. A dedicated advanced practice provider will provide clinical services for the school district and student population. Medical and community staff will work with school nursing staff to address referrals timely and appropriately with consent from parents and guardians. Telehealth services will be available to streamline student access to care within their home school, eliminating transportation barriers. In future phases, telehealth will be utilized to connect Akron Children’s Hospital primary and specialty practice providers directly to their patient population in and through school.

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