Two South Atlanta Schools Get Emory University Health Center Grants

ATLANTA, GA -- Emory University’s PARTNERS for Equity in Child and Adolescent Health in the Department of Pediatrics, along with HEAL and Southside Medical Center, have selected Dobbs and Miles elementary schools to open school-based health centers (SBHCs) at each location.

The new health centers will serve students, families, and community members in the Mays and South Atlanta high school clusters. This project is being underwritten by a $400,000 grant from the Jesse Parker Williams Foundation to provide additional SBHCs throughout Atlanta.

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Following the 20-year success of the SBHC at Whitefoord Elementary School, APS leadership began a concerted effort in the fall of 2014 to implement more school-based health centers in areas considered “medical deserts,” where thousands of school-aged children have limited access to comprehensive health services because of financial, geographical and other barriers to care.

“I recognize that some of our students and families face significant barriers when trying to access health services. This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver quality wrap-around services, especially in communities of high need,” said Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria J. Carstarphen, Ed.D. “And data supports what we already know—if students have good health care related to physical, dental, vision and even mental health, over time, student attendance and academic achievement increases. The SBHCs support our efforts to ensure all of our students are college and career ready.”

The new centers are anticipated to open on August 3, 2016, the first day of school and will operate separately from the school. Physicians, pediatricians, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as well as, health educators and social workers will staff each SBHC. They will treat all levels of acute and chronic illness along with providing a full range of diagnostic testing, preventive care and disease management for asthma, diabetes and obesity.

The SBHCs at Dobbs and Miles elementary schools are designated Federally Qualified Community Health Centers and will accept Georgia Better Health Care, Medicaid, Peach Care and private insurance. Fees are determined on a sliding scale based on income so that quality health care is accessible and affordable.