Governor Announces Funding to Transform Children’s Health Services

ZANESVILLE, OH – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted have announced dozens of transformational projects that will help to improve access to healthcare across many of Ohio’s Appalachian communities.

As part of the new Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, more than $64 million in funding will be awarded to the Appalachian Children Coalition to support the creation or expansion of community and school-based health clinics as well as the launch of healthcare-focused workforce development programs.

Lt. Gov. Husted said this project was started to help children with their health so they can focus on learning when they’re in the classroom.

“This will serve 34 school districts and 61,000 students, who will be able to get healthcare on their school campuses,” Husted said. “That will help them to be ready for school so they don’t have to come to school with a toothache, coughs or sicknesses. Or have mom or dad take off work to try to get them to the doctors, they can get these services right at school.”

Two local school districts received a combined $1,583,500 to help create these school based health clinics.

The Zanesville City School District received $1.3 Million and the Maysville Local School District received $283,500.

Gov. Mike DeWine said schools should be a place for kids to learn, grow, and feel good about themselves and hopes this project helps with that.

“We worry a lot about our kids reading but if a child can’t read that well because they really need glasses but they’re not getting them or an eye exam,” DeWine said. “Or if they have a problem with their teeth, all of these things impede the quality of life and certainly impede their ability to learn.”

For more information about the Appalachian Children’s Healthcare Initiative, you can head to the Governor’s website.