Adena Local School District receives $5.7M grant to open new Warrior Wellness Center

Adena Local School District and Adena Health will partner to open a new Warrior Wellness Center thanks to a $5,754,118 grant announced as part of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s ongoing investment in Ohio’s Appalachian communities.

The Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, announced by Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, is a more than $64 million investment that includes dozens of projects to improve access to healthcare in 36 communities across 20 Appalachian counties in Ohio. It is the largest investment in school-based health services in the state of Ohio.

In partnership with Adena Health, Adena Local School District will establish the Warrior Wellness Center located on the school district’s new athletic field complex. The facility will be inclusive of a variety of health, wellness and social services and will not only benefit the students of Adena Local but will also serve school staff and the entire community. 

The wellness center will include a newly constructed primary health clinic in addition to a pharmacy, a community wellness and activity center, and offices for behavioral health and other community-serving organizations. A walking track in the facility will provide year-round exercise opportunities for community members. On-site primary care clinical services will be supported five days per week through Adena Health and staffed with a primary care provider and support staff.

The Appalachian Community grant award is an epoch-making investment for the Adena school district and the community. The focus on health and wellness while promoting growth and development economically is crucial for our long-term success.

“Adena Health is proud to be the partner of choice for Adena Local Schools in their school based health and wellness journey as well as providing a new access point for primary care in an underserved portion of the county,” said John Gabis, MD, Adena Health medical director of community partnerships. “The change to impact current and future generations is monumental. The ability to make a difference in caring for our communities is such an honor, and we are looking forward to this deeper relationship.”

The grant proposal was prepared by Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus on behalf of the Appalachian Children Coalition to improve children’s access to the care they need where they spend most of their time – in school. The new or expanded services, including primary care, behavioral health and preventive care, will reach nearly 375,000 youth, families and community members. Each project varies based on community needs.
   
“We appreciate Gov. DeWine’s commitment to the health of children in the Appalachian region and are excited to be able to lead the effort to bring local healthcare services to meet their needs,” said Randy Leite, PhD, executive director of the Appalachian Children Coalition. “For many children and families, the lack of access to local healthcare services leads to any number of negative health and educational outcomes. The school-based clinics and services to be developed as part of this program will provide access that is so desperately needed. We share Gov. DeWine’s commitment to our children and know that our many partners in this effort do, too.”

Schools can play a critical role in improving a child’s health and well-being. More than 150 traditional school-based health center sites operate or are under development in Ohio, according to the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance. This project will open 16 new school-based health centers, along with mobile care services, behavioral health services, dental services and mobile vision services.

To ensure seamless implementation across the many projects, and sustained success of these efforts and investment, the project incorporates built-in technical assistance support from Nationwide Children’s. Nationwide Children’s operates 17 school-based primary care clinics in central Ohio and has partnered with the state of Ohio, healthcare providers, nonprofit funders, school nurses and school districts across the state to support the development of school-based health programs in over 38 mostly Appalachian counties.

“We know that children can reach their full potential in the classroom when they are healthy, live in a safe and stable environment, and have access to the resources they need,” said Mary Kay Irwin, EdD, senior director of school health services for Nationwide Children’s. “By partnering with schools, we are helping many children access important care they would otherwise not receive. If we want to improve health outcomes for all children, we must work together and meet families where they are.”

This unprecedented $64 million investment in school-based and community health is part of the state’s $500 million “OhioBuilds – Small Communities – Big Impact – A Plan for Appalachia” community grant program announced in 2022. The program is administered by the Governor's Office of Appalachia within the Ohio Department of Development.
   
About Adena Local School District: Adena Local Schools is a preK-12 public school located in southeastern Ohio. It prides itself on being a rural school district who provides innovative educational opportunities for its students and community.

About Adena Health: Adena Health is an independent, not-for-profit and locally governed health care organization delivering on its mission, “called to serve our communities,” for more than 125 years. A regional economic catalyst, Adena Health is composed of more than 4,200 employees – including more than 200 physicians and 150 advanced practice providers. With hospitals containing a total of 341 beds, regional health centers, emergency and urgent care services, and primary and specialty care practices, Adena Health serves more than 400,000 residents across nine counties in south central and southern Ohio through its network of more than 40 locations. Its hospitals include the 266-bed Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe and three 25-bed critical access hospitals — Adena Fayette Medical Center in Washington Court House; Adena Greenfield Medical Center in Greenfield; and Adena Pike Medical Center in Waverly. Adena Health specialty services include orthopedics and sports medicine, heart and vascular care, pediatric and women’s health, and oncology services.

About Appalachian Children Coalition: The Appalachian Children Coalition (ACC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of children across Ohio's 32-county Appalachian region. Driven by a mission to uplift children's lives through collaborative advocacy and strategic investments, ACC has forged impactful partnerships since 2020. These partnerships have enabled the redirection of resources toward a robust support infrastructure tailored to the region's unique child needs. ACC's initiatives focus on behavioral health workforce development, prevention education, school-based health services and regional responsiveness, comprehensively addressing the diverse needs of children in the communities it serves. Operating as advocates for those serving children, ACC remains resolute in ensuring every Appalachian Ohio child has equitable access to resources for holistic development and wellbeing.

About Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems. Nationwide Children’s is home to the country’s most robust school health services program. Nationwide Children’s has partnered with the state of Ohio, healthcare providers, nonprofit funders, school nurses and school districts across the state to support the development of school-based health programs in over 38 mostly Appalachian counties. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 14,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.7 million patient visits annually.

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