DeWine celebrates success of Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative  

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced the successful conclusion of the Appalachian Children's Health Initiative, an innovative program that dedicated more than $64 million to bring transformative care to children and families across Ohio's Appalachian region.

Last week, the Appalachian Children's Health Initiative opened its 29th health clinic, located within the Chillicothe City School District. Chillicothe's new clinic is the final clinic funded through the program. 

“Too many children in Appalachia have had to travel long distances to get even basic healthcare. Today, more families can find that care close to home, including right at their child’s school,” said Governor DeWine. "These clinics are a lasting investment in the health and future of Ohio’s children. Tomorrow’s leaders are receiving care today because of this program, these clinics, and the many, many people who have helped this idea become reality.”   

Of the 29 clinics, most are school-based health clinics operating in partnership with 16 regional healthcare partners and serving 34 school districts. 

While the availability of services varies between facilities, expanded services include comprehensive primary care, dental, vision, and mental health services for children, families, and community members.  

"As a mom of three, I know how quickly a child’s illness can upend a school day and leave parents either scrambling to arrange care or step away from work,” said Director Mihalik. “These clinics give families in this region one less barrier to navigate, which means more time for their kids to do what’s most important — learning, growing, and being kids.” 

Since the first clinic opened in 2024, the sites have accommodated nearly 33,000 patient visits, including more than 21,000 child visits. This has resulted in an average of 3.19 hours per student of saved learning time - hours preserved by visiting a school-based clinic instead of leaving campus. 

Created with support from the Ohio General Assembly, the Appalachian Children's Health Initiative was funded as part of the Governor DeWine's larger Appalachian Community Grant Program, which invested an unprecedented $500 million into Ohio's 32-county Appalachian region. The health clinic funding was awarded to the Appalachian Children Coalition and administered by the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, housed within the Department of Development.

“The Appalachian Children Coalition has been excited to lead this effort to bring local healthcare access to children across 36 Appalachian communities,” said Randy Leite, executive director of the Appalachian Children Coalition. “The Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative will assure children have access to the care they need without having to miss school to receive it.  We appreciate the support of Governor DeWine, Director Mihalik, and Governor’s Office of Appalachia Director John Carey and his staff.”

Nationwide Children’s Hospital prepared the grant proposal for the program on behalf of the Appalachian Children Coalition, and served as a critical partner in the completion of the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, providing implementation support and technical assistance to all awarded districts.  

"The Appalachian Children's Health Initiative demonstrates what is possible when local communities, schools, healthcare providers, and state partners come together around a shared commitment to children's health,” said Mary Kay Irwin, Ed.D., senior director of school-based health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “Nationwide Children's has been proud to support implementation, provide technical assistance, and help communities build sustainable models of school-based care. The success of this initiative reflects the dedication of our local partners and the impact that coordinated investments can have on improving access to care, keeping students healthy, and reducing the non-academic barriers to learning." 

In total, the DeWine Administration has invested approximately $2 billion in Ohio's Appalachian counties since 2019.  

The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places, and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov.