On Tuesday, August 11th, MHS and Cenpatico sponsored and participated in the Ribbon Cutting / Open House ceremony at Calumet High School in Gary, IN for the opening of two School-Based Health Clinics.

Calumet is the location of one of the Clinics, the other is located at Grissom Elementary School. Both clinics will open Tuesday, August 18th staffed with a pediatrician, medical assistant, licensed clinical social worker, and a receptionist. “School-Based Health Centers offer quality, integrated and comprehensive medical and behavioral health services in a safe, familiar, accessible and youth-focused environment” said Cenpatico Administrator of School Based Services in Indiana, Mark Fisher. “They are the means to bridge the gap between health and education. It is well accepted that healthier children make better learners. Also, SBHCs have shown to increase academic performance, social and emotional well-being.”

At the Clinics, students and staff are able to receive comprehensive health care services, including behavioral health and dental and vision services, on school grounds. The goal is to prevent students from getting sick, promote overall health and well-being, enhance the delivery of primary and preventive services and improve attendance and performance in school. “With school-based health centers, kids do not need to miss school for doctors’ appointments and parents don’t have to take off from work to take their child to the doctor,” said Fisher.

Cenpatico was pleased to be joined by co-sponsors Lake Ridge Schools, Community Health Net, Inc. (formerly Gary Community Health Center) and Regional Mental Health Center (formerly Southlake Community Mental Health Center and Tri-City Community Mental Health Center) at the event.

To see more pictures from the event click here.

This entry is filed under News.

Tags: behavioral, care, center, children, clinic, community, health, healthcare, hope, indiana, mental, recovery, resiliency, results, school