Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: The Power of MetroHealth’s School Health Program

In Cleveland’s neighborhoods, where accessing healthcare can often have challenges, MetroHealth’s School Health Program (SHP) is transforming lives – one student, one family, one school at a time.

Launched in 2013 with a single clinic in a converted classroom, SHP now serves more than 6,200 students through five school district partnerships supporting nearly 30 schools in Cuyahoga County. Care is provided through seven in-school clinics, mobile units and telehealth platforms.

The comprehensive care provided includes physicals (annual well-child, sports, work), urgent care, chronic disease management, immunizations, lab testing, care coordination, mental health screening and assessment, vision and hearing screenings, and dental services (at select locations).

Earlier this year, MetroHealth celebrated a major milestone: the opening of two new school-based health clinics as part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Integrated Health Initiative.

With ribbon-cuttings at John Marshall High School and Anton Grdina PreK-8 School, these sites expand access to MetroHealth’s comprehensive SHP services for students, families and staff.

The SHP model removes barriers that often prevent children from receiving care, like transportation, time off work and lack of insurance. With parental consent, students receive care during the school day, right where they are.

The results are powerful: SHP students are more likely to have completed a well-child exam, more likely to be up to date on immunizations and less likely to visit the Emergency Department. SHP students often have fewer absences and see an increase in academic outcomes.

MetroHealth is committed to the long-term sustainability of this vital program. While some SHP patients have billable insurance, services like care coordination and addressing social drivers of health are not always reimbursable. Philanthropic support is essential.

Moments Made Possible By You

Christine Alexander-Rager, MD, MetroHealth President and CEO, helped found SHP and brought Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner John Yousef, APRN-CNP, on board in 2016 as part of its continued growth.

John shared several stories that underscore the life-saving potential of the SHP.

“A 14-year-old came in feeling depressed and suicidal. Her mom was using drugs and alcohol, and she was essentially caring for herself and her siblings. We connected her with our psychologist, Dr., Lisa Ramirez, who started seeing her weekly. Over time, those visits became monthly. She graduated from high school and went to college. One day, she came back to visit us, hugged us and said, ‘I don’t think I would have made it through high school without you.’ That moment was unforgettable.”

“A 13-year-old came in with a racing heart rate – 125, sometimes 130 – and severe vision problems. Her mom said she ate a lot but couldn’t gain weight. I ordered blood work and found she had hyperthyroidism. We referred her to endocrinology. Months later, she came back. She’d gained 30 pounds, looked completely different and hugged me. Her mom said, ‘You have no idea how much I appreciate this.’ Simple things can change the course of a life.”

And then there was the 12-year-old with severe anemia. “Her hemoglobin count was very low. She was short of breath, almost passing out. I sent her to the ED before the labs even came back. She was admitted, received transfusions and started treatment. I’m not saying I saved her life, but she couldn’t have gone on much longer like that.”

When asked what he’d say to potential supporters, John paused. “Imagine not being able to afford healthcare and then imagine having a clinic you can walk into without worrying about cost. We help families get insurance when possible, and we care for them regardless of their ability to pay. That’s what this program does. It takes away fear. If you could put yourself in these kids’ shoes for one day, you’d understand how much your support matters.”

For more information, please contact Greg Sanders, Vice President of Philanthropy, at 440-592-1319 or gsanders@metrohealth.org.