WOWK-TV: Capito Pushes School-Based Healthcare

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WOWK-TV: Capito Pushes School-Based Healthcare

The health center at Kanawha County's Riverside High School provides a wide range of services. Coordinator Mary Grandon says It operates as a satellite of Cabin Creek Health Center and serves other community members as well as students.

"We serve the community right where they're at. The children come here everyday. So, this is a prime opportunity to provide preventive health services as well as mental health services. And, in some areas throughout the state, there's even oral health services provided in school-based health services," Grandon said.

Grandon gave Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito a tour of the facility emphasizing new programs promoting health behavior. Capito is sponsoring a bill aimed at to increase support for school-based health centers.

"There are some pretty remote areas in my district that could use a little help in terms of establishing a school-based health care center which will turn into a community-based health center," Capito said.

The legislation would establish a program with the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants in support of school-based health clinics.

West Virginia School-based health centers currently provide basic medical and dental care for students at 60 schools in 24 counties.

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