Health Hangar unveiled at Enka Middle School

Families in the Enka School District have a new resource to help them in the coming year. At a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Enka Middle School campus, officials announced that the Enka Health Hanger is officially open for care.

 

This school-based health center is one of 36 operated by Blue Ridge Health in western North Carolina. School-based health centers offer comprehensive care, including medical, dental, counseling, and prescriptions. They are open whenever the school is open, and no student is denied services based on their ability to pay. Private and public health insurance is accepted, and sliding-scale fees are also available for those who qualify.

Parental/guardian consent is required for students to access health care and screenings.

Dr. Richard Hudspeth, family physician and CEO for Blue Ridge Health, said, “We believe strongly in the school-based health program that our organization has offered for more than 30 years. These services promote well-being, positive health outcomes, and economic advantages for the school families in our communities, and we could not provide them without the kind of community collaboration that has been shown for the “Enka Health Hanger.”

School-based health centers have proven to be a wise investment in both the health and education of youth and families. Benefits include easy-to-access health care on the school campus, which addresses challenges related to transportation and parental work schedules; early detection and treatment of illness can reduce the need for expensive treatment down the road and can keep children out of emergency rooms, saving families stress and money; on-site treatment can keep students in schools; decreasing absenteeism which is a crucial component to staying on track for graduation; school-based health centers have been shown to strengthen the connection between schools and families.

“Aligning community partners, rallying resources, and mobilizing volunteers is in our DNA,” said Dan Leroy, president and CEO at United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. “We can’t think of a better reason to celebrate than to see that those skills were used to ensure youth and families have better access to quality health care.”

Leroy continued, “We are committed to ensuring that ALL youth are on a path to achieving their goals and dreams. We know our schools can’t do this work alone; there is a role for all of us to play. United Way is proud to have brought together the partners and resources needed to establish this center and continue our efforts to build hubs of support for the families in the Enka District and 8 other schools across our county year-round.”

Last year, Erwin Middle’s Welcome Warrior Wellness Center opened. The effort to grow school-based health centers in Buncombe County Schools wouldn’t have been possible without the support and partnership between Blue Ridge Health, Buncombe County Schools, MAHEC Family Health Centers, Buncombe County Health & Human Services, and United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County.

This initiative is funded by Buncombe County Government, Dogwood Health Trust, the US Department of Education, and local donations.

“We were thrilled to celebrate this moment with our community and partners,” said Principal Amberle Clarke. “We are blessed to have this resource on our campus and are excited about raising awareness for our school-based health care center so that we can better serve the needs of our students, their families, and our community.”

The Enka Health Hanger is just one of many tools the school now has to support youth success year-round. A food pantry, clothing closet, and increased extra-curricular activities are available. Additionally, weekly “Community Nights” offer families a free, healthy meal, academic support, and opportunities to connect with local organizations.

For more information on Blue Ridge Health school-based health centers, or to register, please go to brchs.com/services/school-based-health/

View photos from the event here: unitedwayabc.org/enka-health-hangar-unveiled