Fayette to explore school health centers

Studies relating children’s health to their education success are prompting Fayette County to consider the feasibility of school-based health centers.

Head Nurse Debbie King briefed the Board of Education recently about the link between school performance and hunger, chronic illness and physical or emotional abuse. King cited a study showing that nearly 6,000 children, primarily in northern Fayette, live in areas considered to have “very low child well-being,” and often lack health insurance.

The county is considering forming a community advisory board to explore school-based centers that would provide primary care and treatment funded by foundations, grants and community healthcare systems.