Providing Services Where They're Needed: School-Based Health Centers

Submitted by kvenables on Fri, 06/10/2022 - 9:11am

The first of its kind in Asheville City Schools, on May 2, 2022, Asheville Middle School launched its School-Based Health Center. The outcome of work conducted in collaboration between United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, MAHEC, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, Buncombe County Schools, and Asheville City Schools, with Blue Ridge Health providing the services, these clinics bring much-needed health services to students directly in the schools they attend. Expansion of these clinics into the Buncombe County Schools system is scheduled for later this year. 

Though the centers are in the early stages in Asheville, the long-term goal is for these health centers to not only treat students but also their siblings and their families.

“Ultimately, the vision is to be a districtwide hub of health care and behavioral health services not only within the four walls of the school, but for folks who are connected to the school.”

-- Deborah Calhoun, United Way's Director of Community Partnerships

Dive Deeper

  • Read more about these exciting new services, and hear from the people and organizations behind them, via this Mountain Xpress article
     
  • Explore more about School-Based Health Centers, including videos from the Asheville City Schools Board Meeting and WLOS HERE.