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| Dr. Noble Maseru, Cincinnati Health Commissioner |
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CINCINNATI HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE HEALTH FOUNDATION OF GREATER CINCINNATI, CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TEAM UP TO PROVIDE MORE STUDENTS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
Local funding and development attract new $500,000 federal grant
The Cincinnati Health Department, working in collaboration with the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to fund school-based health centers (SBHC) at Oyler Community Learning Center and Withrow High School. The local grants were among $95 million in competitive federal grants to fund 278 school-based health centers nationwide.
Oyler Community Learning Center school-based health center in Price Hill will receive a $150,000 to build an Eye Center which will open at the start of the 2012 school year. A number of partners including the Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation, Ohio Optometry Association and OneSight are participating to make this brand new eye center a reality. The eye center at Oyler will be available for use by any CPS student in need. Additionally, Withrow High School campus will utilize $350,000 to begin building a state of the art 1,500 square-foot SBHC for its students this winter.
"Our public and private partners are to be commended. School-based health centers improve the health and success of students by providing services where students are," said Dr. Marilyn Crumpton, Medical Director for the Division of School and Adolescent Health at the Cincinnati Health Department.
At the award announcement US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, "We know that if kids aren’t healthy then kids can’t learn. These grants will make it a lot easier for working moms and dads to help get their children the health care they need and deserve. This unprecedented investment in school-based health care will bring communities closer together and help children succeed in the classroom." -more-
Health Foundation Investment Helped Attract Federal Grants
The federal grants are in addition to more than $1,239,000 in local planning and implementation grants provided by the Health Foundation to the Cincinnati Health Department since 2009.
"The Health Foundation invests in school-based health centers because they not only improve access to health services for those who need it most, they also improve students’ overall health and save the community money," said James Schwab, president and CEO of the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. "The fact that our local grants have provided the seed money to attract money into the community from outside the region," said Mr. Schwab, "is especially gratifying."
The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati has supported school-based health centers since 1999. Today, 15 centers are operating in Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky and another is being planned. It also recently awarded planning grants to the Cincinnati Health Department to assist three more Cincinnati Public Schools (Western Hills, Dater High School and Quebec School) in developing SBHCs, and to help position them to obtain federal grants.
Many CPS Students Need Basic Health Services
Seventy-Five percent of CPS students fall below the federal poverty line. Often a school nurse is their only access to health services. School-based health centers improve the overall health and wellness of children through health screenings, health promotion and disease prevention and enable children with acute or chronic illnesses to attend school. SBHCs are cost-effective and proven to reduce emergency room visits and increase use of primary care, particularly for hard-to-reach populations.
"Academic results are on the rise in Cincinnati Public Schools, with our most recent state test scores showing consistently strong gains. But we know that if our students don't feel well, they won't learn well. School-based health services will help us prevent interruptions to learning and continue the momentum of progress that our students and community need," said Mary Ronan, Superintendant Cincinnati Public Schools.
These programs improve access to basic primary care for school-aged children, especially those who have no other sources of health care. The SBHC grants are funded under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to increase efficiency and quality of care. These funds are available for construction, renovation and equipment needs.
To learn more about school-based health centers or for information on the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care, visit: www.nasbhc.org
Cincinnati Health Department: www.cincinnati-oh.gov
Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati: www.healthfoundation.org
Cincinnati Public Schools: www.cps.k-12.org
For Information on the Cincinnati Health Department:
Website: www.cincinnati-oh.gov
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CinciHealthDept
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cincinnatihealthdepartment
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