Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Centers and the Jennings School District officially celebrated a new school-based clinic at Fairview Elementary School on October 26. The medical, dental and behavioral health clinic has been serving students in the Jennings community since June 1.
“We are holistically educating and servicing this community in a way like never before,” Jennings Superintendent Art McCoy said. Because of the partnership, McCoy said Jennings is currently the only school system with two health-based clinics.
“Because of that, we are the only district that services pre-K through high school, with dental, vision, medical, mental health, including asthma vans and more,” he said.
Angela Clabon, president and CEO of Myrtle Hilliard Davis, said the unique thing about the clinic is that it is open for Jennings students, home-schooled students, and the entire community.
“We’re open five days a week from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for behavioral health, and we’re open two days a week for medical and dental services,” Clabon said.
“The other unique thing for our children, if they are not insured and they need services, we take care of them,” Clabon said.
The brief morning program began with melodious songs by students in the Jennings School District Choir, under the direction of Dello Thedford. The powerful group sang “Motherless Child,” “Oh Beautiful,” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” and “Seasons of Love.”
The ribbon-cutting event in the school gymnasium was attended by educational and health center leadership, elected officials, parents and community members.
Jennings school board member Terry Wilson said bringing partners together is how you build a community.
“Everyone knows the foundation of a thriving community is education and health care,” Wilson said. “We would just like to thank Myrtle Hilliard Davis for choosing Jennings as their home.”
Myrtle Hilliard Davis partnered with Delta Dental for the two-station dental suite. Delta Dental donated all of the equipment for the suite. Preventive and restorative oral health services are available, including dental exams, teeth cleaning, extractions and fluoride varnishes. And services are free of charge.
“Like you, Delta Dental is committed to improving oral health in our community,” said E. B. Rob Goren, Delta Dental president/CEO. “Oral health is very much tied to overall health, so we are very pleased to see this.”
Mattie Stanton, a board member of Myrtle Hilliard Davis, said this is the first school-based health clinic for the agency.
“This is part of our strategic plan that we would have a school-based health clinic,” Stanton said. “It is our hope that it is the start of many wonderful things to come.”
In addition to the dental suite, the clinic at Fairview includes two patient treatment rooms and space for behavioral health. Additionally, Fairview will be the hub for students from other schools in the district to access health services. Bus transportation at the clinic’s expense is provided to students from the other schools for treatment at the Fairview site.
After the program in the gymnasium, utilized by Fairview Elementary and Jennings Junior High School next door, guests toured the clinic, which is located behind the gym. Its location provides access to elementary, junior high, and community patients without disrupting daily activities of either school.
Clabon said, “We are a primary care site inside this school district.”
Clabon said many of their patients are Jennings residents, so putting a clinic in Jennings meets them where they are.
“Due to the economic turnaround, vacation and sick time was taken from them and they could not afford to leave work if their children are sick,” Clabon said. “Some of them have lost their job because they had to take off for children that are sick.”
“Having a clinic on campus is extremely convenient for me as a parent,” said Windy Williams, whose son has been treated at the clinic. “The staff was extremely friendly, and it was very convenient because I didn’t have to miss work, my son did not have to miss school, and I felt comfortable with them treating my son.”
