Louisville, Ky, February 21, 2024. Family Health Centers, Inc. (FHC) and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) held a grand opening for the newest school-based health center at Iroquois High School. JCPS has seven school-based health centers in schools throughout the district to help address barriers to health and mental health services. The Family Health Centers operate in the Iroquois location and are the organization’s first school-based center. The health center will provide students and staff of Iroquois High School access to affordable primary care, behavioral health, and support services. More than 80 percent of Iroquois students are from economically disadvantaged homes.
“School-based clinics deliver health care for young people and their families where they are at – school,” said JCPS Health Services Manager Dr. Eva Stone. “Opening this center at Iroquois is an excellent way to reach more Louisvillians, especially young people, with preventative care, which will improve their health outcomes and the overall health of our city.”
In the 2022-2023 school year, nearly 1 in 5 JCPS students was behind on required immunizations; 92 percent of those were children living in poverty, and 64 percent were children of color.
Family Health Centers is Louisville’s largest community health center, operating nine locations and serving approximately 40,000 patients annually. The organization uses the nearby Iroquois and Americana health centers, serving a diverse population.
“Family Health Centers welcomes everyone, and we have become adept at caring for individuals and families that speak many different languages,” stated Dr. Bart Irwin, CEO of the Family Health Centers. “Being in Iroquois High School will help us reach more people in a part of the city where there are not enough health resources.”
School-based health centers have been shown to reduce access barriers for underserved populations, including minority children and those from low-income households. The goal of the Iroquois High School site is to improve access to affordable health care services, identify and provide early treatment of mental health issues, reduce absenteeism, and improve overall health and academic achievement. Iroquois High School is home to over 1,300 students from more than 40 countries. It is a Title I school where more than 80 percent of students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program and 36 percent have limited English proficiency.
“At Iroquois High School, we work hard every day to meet the needs of ALL students,” said Toetta Taul, principal. “We promise to advocate for every student, promote teacher leadership and retention and welcome all parent and community involvement. Having this clinic aids in our effort to improve the overall health and well-being of our students and staff while promoting the safe and welcoming environment that we strive to maintain.”
Family Health Centers was awarded a $350,000 competitive grant from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) for two years to provide primary health, mental health and enabling services at Iroquois High School. Further, the Jewish Heritage Fund provided funding totaling $150,000 for the school-based site as part of their focus on promoting adolescent health and wellness.
“We are excited to partner with Family Health Centers in expanding healthcare access for underserved youth in Louisville,” said Jeff Polson, President and CEO of the Jewish Heritage Fund. “School-based health clinics are a critical resource for keeping young people healthy and in school, and they provide the opportunity for teens to be actively involved in managing their healthcare needs.”
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Family Health Centers, Inc. (FHC) is a not-for-profit, federally qualified health center that provides access to high-quality primary and preventive health care services regardless of the ability to pay. Established in 1976, FHC offers services to nearly 40,000 individuals annually through a network of nine health center locations throughout Louisville Metro. Learn more at www.fhclouisville.org.
The Jewish Heritage Fund (JHF) is a grantmaking organization established in 2012. Since its founding, JHF has made gifts totaling over $90 million to more than 110 non-profit organizations focusing on, improving adolescent health outcomes in our community, strengthening Louisville’s distinction as a center for leading-edge medical research, and fostering a robust and dynamic Jewish community. For more information, visit jewishheritagefund.com.