Meeting students where they are: School-based health centers expand access to care in Martinsville-Henry County
It’s 7 a.m. on a Tuesday. A child wakes up with a cough, but getting to a healthcare appointment isn’t always simple. Her parents may have to leave work, find transportation, or wait days for an available appointment. Too often, those barriers lead to delayed care and missed school.
For many families across Martinsville-Henry County, these kinds of situations are everyday realities. And when students can’t access the care they need, the effects extend far beyond their health, impacting attendance, learning, and future opportunities.
As Dr. Sandy Strayer, program officer at The Harvest Foundation and retired superintendent of Henry County Public Schools, puts it, “You can’t teach students who aren’t there.”
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That’s why The Harvest Foundation spent more than two years working alongside local school districts, healthcare providers, and national experts to bring healthcare closer to students.
School-based health centers at a glance
- Expand healthcare access for students
- Complement existing healthcare providers
- Provide school health services close to where students learn
- Reduce barriers like transportation and scheduling
- Support healthier students and stronger schools
Building a community solution for Martinsville-Henry County
When The Harvest Foundation began exploring ways to improve healthcare access for local students, the goal wasn’t to build clinics. It was to remove barriers that too often stand between children and the care they need.
The solution didn’t happen overnight. Over more than two years, Harvest worked alongside school leaders, PATHS, Connect Health + Wellness, and the School-Based Health Alliance to research successful models from across the country, analyze local health data, visit existing programs, and build the partnerships needed to create a sustainable approach for Martinsville-Henry County.
Throughout the process, Harvest played the role it knows best — not as the operator of the centers, but as a catalyst for bringing people and resources together. The foundation funded planning and implementation, convened education and healthcare partners, and used research and community data to shape the initiative.
“We were the funder and the convener, which is where we should be.”
What are school-based health centers?
A school-based health center is a partnership between a school and a healthcare provider that brings medical care closer to where students already spend much of their day. The centers can be either inside the school building or in a separate building on school grounds. All are staffed by licensed healthcare professionals and are designed to complement — not replace — a child’s pediatrician or family doctor.
For many families, a visit to the doctor can mean taking time off work, arranging transportation, or waiting days for an available appointment. School-based health centers reduce those barriers by making care more convenient and accessible. When students can be evaluated by a licensed medical provider at school, families and educators can make more informed decisions about whether a child needs to go home or can safely remain in class.
“When a medical professional can determine that a student is well enough to remain at school, it has a significant impact,” said Dr. Strayer. “It keeps students in the classroom, reduces unnecessary dismissals, and maximizes instructional time.
But the benefits extend beyond treating illness. By emphasizing preventive care, the centers help students build healthy habits and become more engaged in their own well-being.
“Hopefully preventive measures teach kids early on to be their own healthcare advocate,” said Dr. Strayer. “We want to put in kids’ minds that these are lifelong health habits.”
While the centers will initially serve students and staff, the long-term vision is to strengthen healthcare access across Martinsville-Henry County by connecting more families with the care they need. As the program grows, partners hope to offer:
- Telehealth appointments
- After-hours appointments
- Services for students from additional schools
- Expanded access for the broader community
Looking ahead: A healthier Martinsville-Henry County
The opening of these school-based health centers marks an important milestone, but their greatest impact will unfold over time. As students gain easier access to care and families face fewer barriers, the benefits have the potential to extend far beyond the classroom.
For The Harvest Foundation, that’s the power of long-term community investment. By bringing healthcare closer to students, the foundation is advancing its vision of a Martinsville-Henry County where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Frequently asked questions about school-based health centers
What is a school-based health center?
A school-based health center is a partnership between a school and a healthcare provider that brings medical care closer to where students learn. The centers are designed to complement (not replace) a child’s primary care provider by making it easier to access timely healthcare.
