Springfield City School District’s School Based Health Center is transforming community wellness

Springfield City School District’s School Based Health Center underpins a belief shared by many educators: Students can’t learn if they’re not healthy. This simple truth was the driving force behind the creation of the clinic housed in Springfield High School, which opened in the fall of 2024. Through a partnership, local healthcare provider Rocking Horse Community Health Center delivers services.

In some ways, this development was a long time coming. For years, the district faced challenges with student attendance and engagement, often tied to unmet health needs. 

“We heard from families and staff during strategic planning that access to healthcare was a major issue,” Community Outreach Coordinator Anita Biles says. “If students aren’t feeling well, they’re not in the building, and that impacts everything from attendance to graduation rates.”

Click here to read the original article.