CANTON, Ohio (March 27, 2024) – Aultman will partner with three local school districts to expand school-based healthcare services thanks to $6.8 million in grants that were recently announced as a part of Gov. Mike DeWine’s ongoing investment in Ohio’s Appalachian communities.

The Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, announced by DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, is a more than $64 million investment that includes dozens of projects to improve access to healthcare in 36 communities across 20 Appalachian counties in Ohio. It is the largest investment in school-based health services in the state of Ohio.

Aultman partnered with Brown Local Schools, Claymont City School District and Tuscarawas Valley Local School District to provide and expand school-based health centers (SBHC) in 2022. With the new funding, all three districts will see vast expansions in what they’re able to offer.

Brown will build a 3,000-square-foot community wellness center to provide comprehensive services, including access to healthcare, mental health, addiction and recovery services, CARE Team services and wellness opportunities for staff and community. Claymont will construct a new, 2,000-square-foot SBHC to provide enhanced acute care and comprehensive well-care to address absenteeism among students and staff. Tusky Valley will repurpose the old high school building into a community resource center that will house an SBHC, senior center, community event space and theater, as well as a fitness center, offering students and community members access to comprehensive primary care, including well visits, acute and sick visits, vaccinations and more.

“We are very excited to see how these grants and facilities will greatly improve the healthcare options and services in Ohio communities, particularly among students,” said Ryan Jones, president, Aultman Orrville Hospital and Aultman Alliance Community Hospital. “Our SBHCs have already had a tremendous impact, and we’ll be able to offer far more services to our communities as a result of Gov. DeWine’s investment in these areas.”

The grant proposal was prepared by Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus on behalf of the Appalachian Children Coalition to improve children’s access to the care they need where they spend most of their time – in school. The new or expanded services, including primary care, behavioral health and preventive care, will reach nearly 375,000 youth, families and community members. Each project varies based on community needs.

“We appreciate Gov. DeWine’s commitment to the health of children in the Appalachian region and are excited to be able to lead the effort to bring local healthcare services to meet their needs,” said Randy Leite, Ph.D., executive director of the Appalachian Children Coalition. “For many children and families, the lack of access to local healthcare services leads to any number of negative health and educational outcomes. The school-based clinics and services to be developed as part of this program will provide access that is so desperately needed. We share Gov. DeWine’s commitment to our children and know that our many partners in this effort do, too.”

Schools can play a critical role in improving a child’s health and well-being. More than 150 traditional school-based health center sites operate or are under development in Ohio, according to the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance. This project will open 16 new school-based health centers, along with mobile care services, behavioral health services, dental services and mobile vision services.

To ensure seamless implementation across the many projects, and sustained success of these efforts and investment, the project incorporates built-in technical assistance support from Nationwide Children’s. Nationwide Children’s operates 17 school-based primary care clinics in central Ohio and has partnered with the state of Ohio, healthcare providers, nonprofit funders, school nurses and school districts across the state to support the development of school-based health programs in over 38 mostly Appalachian counties.

This unprecedented $64 million investment in school-based and community health is part of the state’s $500 million “OhioBuilds – Small Communities – Big Impact – A Plan for Appalachia” community grant program announced in 2022. The program is administered by the Governor's Office of Appalachia within the Ohio Department of Development.

About Aultman Health Foundation
The Aultman Health Foundation is a nonprofit healthcare organization serving Stark and surrounding counties. The integrated healthcare system includes Aultman Hospital, Aultman Orrville Hospital, Aultman Alliance Community Hospital, the locally managed health insurance provider AultCare, The Aultman Foundation and Aultman College. With 1,032 beds, over 1,000 providers and a team of more than 7,000 employees, Aultman is Stark County's largest provider of healthcare services. For more information, visit www.aultman.org.

About Appalachian Children Coalition
The Appalachian Children Coalition (ACC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of children across Ohio's 32-county Appalachian region. Driven by a mission to uplift children's lives through collaborative advocacy and strategic investments, ACC has forged impactful partnerships since 2020. These partnerships have enabled the redirection of resources toward a robust support infrastructure tailored to the region's unique child needs. ACC's initiatives focus on behavioral health workforce development, prevention education, school-based health services, and regional responsiveness, comprehensively addressing the diverse needs of children in the communities it serves. Operating as advocates for those serving children, ACC remains resolute in ensuring every Appalachian Ohio child has equitable access to resources for holistic development and well-being.