Gallia County Local Schools and Holzer Break Ground on New $2.85 Million School-Based Health Center

Gallia County Local Schools, Holzer Health System and Gallia Family Dental celebrated the groundbreaking Tuesday for a $2.85 million school-based health center — a project that will help address a critical community need for comprehensive health care services closer to home. The project is funded through Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s historic investment in Ohio’s Appalachian communities.

The Gallia County School-Based Health Center, to be housed in a 2,300-square-foot addition to the South Gallia middle and high school building, will provide comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, dental and vision services to students, district staff and members of the surrounding community. The health center and vision services will be operated by Holzer, and dental services will be offered through Gallia Family Dental.

This school health center is made possible through the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, a $64 million investment announced in March by Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted that includes dozens of projects to improve access to health care in 36 communities across 20 Appalachian counties in Ohio.

“For children to do their best, they need to feel their best,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. “This center will not only support students’ health and well-being, but it will contribute significantly to their overall success in the classroom.”

The estimated completion of the project is fall 2025.

“We are excited to begin construction on the Gallia County School-Based Health Center,” said Phillip Kuhn, Superintendent of the Gallia County Local School District. “Convenient access to care can be a challenge for many people in our community. This center will help bring vital health care services much closer to our students and families. This new center will help our students stay healthy so they can be successful in the classroom.”

The center will include a reception area, two exam rooms, three dental operatories, a vision room, lab, offices for behavioral health providers, a conference room and flexible office space as needed. On-site primary care clinical services will be offered through Holzer with a primary care provider and support staff.  

“We are honored to partner with Gallia County Local Schools to bring comprehensive health services to students, their families and the community. This will deliver critical services and help address some of the key barriers to care and good health the community faces. Patients at the center can also be connected to our other facilities across the region for specialized care they may need,” said Todd Fowler, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Holzer.

Care for students will be the top priority, but the center will also serve families and the community. The school district will provide transportation to the center for students at other Gallia County school buildings.

The Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative will create 16 new school-based health centers, along with mobile care, behavioral health, dental and mobile vision services.

“For generations, the people of Appalachia have shown that strength, perseverance, and vision can create lasting change,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “The new health center at South Gallia Middle and High School represents the transformative power of community-driven solutions. By meeting the holistic health needs of students, staff, and families close to home, this facility will strengthen the foundation of a healthier, more vibrant future for Gallia County.”

This grant was made possible with support from the Appalachian Children Coalition and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“The lack of access to convenient health services leads to any number of negative health and educational outcomes. School-based health centers, like this one in Gallia County Local Schools, will provide accessible services that are so desperately needed. We share Gov. DeWine’s commitment to our children and know that our many partners in this effort do, too,” said Randy Leite, PhD, executive director of the Appalachian Children Coalition.

The project incorporates built-in technical assistance support from Nationwide Children’s Hospital to ensure seamless implementation across all projects and sustained success.

“We know healthier students are better learners and are excited about the impact this school health center will make in the community for years to come,” said Mary Kay Irwin, EdD, senior director of school health services for Nationwide Children’s, which operates 17 school-based primary care clinics in central Ohio and has supported the development of school health models in over 38 Ohio counties.

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About Gallia County Local Schools

The Gallia County Local School District covers approximately 450 square miles and serves 2,767 students. The school district’s facilities include four PK-5 elementary buildings, one 6-8 building, one 6-12 middle/high school and one 9-12 high school.

About Holzer Health System

Holzer Health System is a not-for-profit multi-disciplinary regional health system with locations throughout southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia. The system includes two hospital locations, multiple clinical locations, long-term care entities, and more than 180 providers in more than 30 medical specialties. Holzer provides the entire continuum of care for the communities we serve. For more information, visit www.holzer.org.

About Appalachian Children Coalition

The Appalachian Children Coalition (ACC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being 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 well-being.

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.