Millions of dollars will go to Valley schools to cover the costs of physical care.
Several communities will take advantage of Governor DeWine’s Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, which will support school-based fitness clinics, the launch of progression programs focused on fitness care, and much more.
Akron Children’s Hospital also partners with most of the valley communities that get funding. 21 News spoke with the leaders of the relevant districts about how this would benefit student well-being.
“Our vision for the long-term of Ohio is one in which all Ohioans, no matter where they come from, have the opportunity to realize their full potential,” said Governor DeWine. “These projects will uplift and empower others in the Appalachian region of Ohio for generations to come. “
The cash will be distributed among 28 projects that will benefit 61,000 scholars and 375,000 citizens in 20 Appalachian counties. The expansion will include number one comprehensive care, dental, vision and intellectual fitness care for children, families and communities, according to a news release. from the governor’s office.
The Campbell City School District is the most sensible recipient of the state’s Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, earning $10,504,736 million of the $64 million available.
Every dollar goes to transforming children’s physical care in schools. Campbell will apply the budget to its Health and Community Development Center, which works to provide on-site food pantries, number one pediatric care, intellectual fitness counseling and much more.
DeWine visited Campbell on Friday to announce dozens of transformative projects that will enable spectacular access to physical care in many communities in Ohio’s Appalachian Mountains.
“This is an opportunity for our young people and they are the ones who matter the most. I don’t need to lose sight of that,” said Matthew Bowen, superintendent of Campbell City Schools. “What we’re looking for here is rarely something very fair. “express to our four square miles. Everyone in the network can access many specialized systems and deliverables presented through our many partners. “
Warren City Schools will receive more than $318,360 to create an in-school fitness center in partnership with Akron Children’s.
“This money strengthens and solidifies the work our wife at Akron Children’s is already doing with our children here in the buildings,” Chiaro said.
The district already had a nurse practitioner, but the investment will expand physical care support for the district’s students.
Superintendent Steve Chiaro told 21 News that a quarter of the district’s students haven’t had any problems in the past year. He explained that such symptoms show why physical care at school is so essential.
“Last year alone, we had 900 cases of chronic fitness situations that were treated through our partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital, here in the schools,” Chiaro told 21 News. “So it’s a great need. If our medical team sees a challenging chronic physical condition in a student and they do not have a family physician, then that nurse will offer an Akron Children’s medical check to meet the physical care needs of the students. Here are some of the barriers to learning that we are reviewing. address.
Superintendent Chiaro said Akron Children’s has been offering in-school nursing since 2016. In the 2022-2023 school year, 526 students were treated for asthma, 329 for life-threatening allergies and 46 for seizure disorders. In the 2021-2022 school year, 74% of the district’s 4,744 students were enrolled in Medicaid. Of those, only 46% have had a medical scale in the past year.
Additional information will be presented to Warren scholars beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.
“This will allow us to take care of the telemedicine apparatus and, I think, some of the salaries of the staff of the providers and the nurses at those schools,” Paul Olivier, vice president of Akron Children’s Hospital, told 21 News. Students probably wouldn’t even have to leave their school to go to Boardman or Akron for medical care. “
Olivier explained that Akron Children’s has effectively implemented a physical care program in dozens of districts for years.
“We’re very pleased that the governor has prepared the budget to help us push what we offer and take it to the next level,” Olivier said.
Of the 34 school districts involved, the East Palestine School District won $251,528 to upgrade its clinic, which is located in Warren.
Governor DeWine, by applying those dollars locally, is helping to reduce barriers to accessing essential physical fitness while improving students’ physical and intellectual fitness.
“By addressing the holistic fitness desires of scholars and families, this task exemplifies the transformative force of community-based solutions,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “I commend the Appalachian Children’s Coalition and its partners for bringing together diverse stakeholders to create a long-term for Appalachian Ohioans. “
A total of $238,668 will be committed to projects in the Bristol, Crestview, Mahoning Valley, Newton Falls and Sebring school districts. Akron Children’s is partnered with all of those districts.
Visit Governor DeWine’s home to learn more about the investment announced Friday.