Every day across Southeast Kansas, students are receiving healthcare in the very same place they go to learn: their school. Through CHC/SEK’s School Health services, families have access to medical, dental, behavioral health, and outreach services without having to step outside their school.
“Our school health program is big and broad,” said Ali Martinez, the Director of School Health. “In addition to school nurses—it includes clinics, therapy, dental, telehealth, and so much more. Everything we do falls under the umbrella of school health, and it all comes together to support students and their families.”
The department offers a wide range of services. School-based clinics are staffed by nurses, health assistants, and providers, with telehealth available on days when a provider is not on site so that students can still be seen. These clinics operate much like a regular doctor’s office and can provide well-child checks, sports physicals, prescriptions, vaccines, and walk-in visits for common sicknesses and minor health needs. Most importantly, students in the district are never charged out-of-pocket costs, ensuring that care is accessible to all families. In addition to students, many districts also allow immediate family members and staff to use the clinics, extending the reach of care to parents, siblings, and even grandparents who live with students.
Today, CHC has school-based staff in sixteen area school districts and serves additional districts through outreach services. CHC/SEK School Health includes twenty-three school nurses, five community health workers, twelve school health assistants, and sixteen behavioral health staff members, all working together to ensure that students have the support they need to be healthy and ready to learn. Community health workers connect students and families with important resources, while the behavioral health team, led by Ashley Neely, provides school-based therapy. Outreach also plays a vital role in school health, with teams traveling to schools to conduct hearing and vision screenings, give puberty talks, and organize vaccine clinics. Dental outreach is another essential service, with hygienists completing screenings, and providing preventative services such as cleanings and sealants. When more advanced care is needed, children are referred for follow-up at CHC clinics.
CHC/SEK has been building its school health program since its beginning, with dental outreach beginning in 2006. In 2022, CHC/SEK began to expand its number of school-based clinics, many of which were supported by COVID relief funds. That investment allowed the program to grow rapidly, adding telehealth and expanding into more schools and districts across the region.
The value of the work is clear. Students who are not feeling well struggle to focus in class, and parents often face difficulties getting time off work to take their children to appointments. By making care available during the school day, children can be seen quickly, get treatment, and return to class without missing hours of school, while their parents avoid missing work. In many cases, the school clinics serve as the student’s primary care provider, prescribing needed medications and managing ongoing conditions. By partnering with schools, CHC/SEK is able to make healthcare more accessible while supporting student achievement.
For those who work in this department, the rewards outweigh the challenges. The most meaningful part of the job is the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child. Sometimes that difference comes in the form of medical care or resources, and other times it’s something as simple as offering comfort or encouragement. “Sometimes all a child needs is a hug and being able to provide that can change their whole day. For me, I also find it rewarding to be able to give our staff the training and resources they need so they can continue making an even bigger impact. They are the ones who see the students every day and supporting them means we’re helping more kids than I ever could on my own,” Martinez shares.
The reach of CHC/SEK’s School Health Department continues to grow each year, and the 2024–2025 school year is already showing an incredible impact. During this time, school nurses saw a combined total of 204,473 student visits, while school-based behavioral health staff provided care through 12,709 visits. Medical providers in school-based clinics, along with telehealth services, completed 6,753 visits, ensuring students had access to timely medical care. The dental outreach team performed 20,229 screenings and delivered preventative services to more than 7,000 students, while the outreach team completed 7,783 vision and hearing screenings in schools that may not staff a full-time nurse or have the capacity to complete them otherwise. In addition, school-based CHWs supported over 400 families and recorded more than 1,400 interactions, demonstrating the essential role they play in connecting students and families with resources and support.
CHC/SEK’s School Health Department’s greatest measure of success is the difference it makes for students and families every day. “Our kids are the future, and taking care of them is something we are proud of,” Martinez shares. “The work is not easy, but it is meaningful, and we take it seriously. We’re proud of the program we’re building and the lives we’re touching every single day.”