Robb Blasdel Announces Over $480,000 for Columbiana County Schools

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana County) announced today that the East Palestine and Crestview School Districts will receive $488,196 in funding for a new school-based health clinic, telehealth services, and a mobile unit that will provide in-person healthcare for multiple districts. The funding comes from the new Appalachian Children's Health Initiative, part of the Appalachian Community Grant Program. The State Controlling Board approved the funding during its meeting on Monday.

"These resources will go a long way to help students not only in Columbiana County but the region as a whole," said Robb Blasdel. "Building a new center in East Palestine will only strengthen the community, and the students of Crestview will be better served with access to the services they need to help them grow and fully reach their potential."

Both projects are in partnership with Akron Children's Hospital.  

The East Palestine City School District has designated a private, school-based clinical space in the elementary and high school. They will receive equipment to facilitate comprehensive, in-person care and telehealth. A dedicated school health primary care provider will be recruited and retained at the program launch to partner directly with East Palestine City Schools. The provider will offer indirect and direct clinical services and will work with the school nursing staff. Together, they will leverage health and wellness policy, promotion, education, and access to direct healthcare services to help create healthy school environments for students, staff, and families across the district. 

The Crestview School District joins five other districts and will receive mobile, in-person provider, and telehealth models of school-based healthcare services. Each district designated a private clinical space for Akron Children's use when on-site, allowing for efficient distribution, coordination, and management of services, including necessary preventative care services. The school provider will deliver telehealth and in-person clinical services for the district and student population. Each location will receive integrated telehealth equipment to streamline student access to care. In future phases, telehealth will be utilized to connect Akron Children's Hospital primary and specialty practice providers directly to their patient population in and through school.

The next State Controlling Board meeting is scheduled for April 15, 2024.