August 16, 2023– Columbus City Schools and PrimaryOne Health celebrated the opening of a new School-Based Health Center at Columbus International High School.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house took place on Wednesday, August 16. Columbus International students Jordan Ayers, Jasmine Smith-Hughes, and Mirma Mitial led the pledge and national anthem. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests took self-guided tours of the health center and enjoyed refreshments.
“Partnerships like this one are shining examples of what Columbus City Schools and partners in the health care profession like PrimaryOne Health can do together, and that is to care for our entire community,” said Board of Education President Jennifer Adair. “This facility is open to all and that’s what we are striving for because we want our buildings to be those center hubs for the community. We couldn’t be prouder of this partnership.”
Although not the first School-Based Health Center within CCS, the center at Columbus International is the first to serve people of all ages. The center will offer services including primary care, dental, vision, mental health, substance-use disorder services, health education, and mobile health care for all CCS students, their families, and the community.
“This work is so important to ensuring the overall health of the whole child,” said Kathryn Moser, Columbus City Schools Deputy Superintendent. “What is so different about this experience we are launching today is the opportunity to also serve our families and the community.”
The health center is designed to expand PrimaryOne Health’s services and programs to the community at large with the model focused on improving student access to health care and closing gaps experienced by racial, ethnic, and cultural communities experiencing health inequities.
“We provide services not only for children but also for adults and that is critically important because some of our children have parents, guardians, and family members who need these services as well,” said Charleta B. Tavares, Chief Executive Officer of PrimaryOne Health. “We are a model focused on improving student access to health care and closing gaps experienced by racial, ethnic, and cultural communities who are at many times experiencing health care disparities. Students who receive health care and preventative services are more likely to be attentive learners.”
