How Galena Park ISD provides convenient, high-quality health care for students

GALENA PARK, Texas – It is becoming easier for Galena Park ISD students to access quality health care thanks to the district’s partnership with Legacy Community Health.

Legacy has four health clinics in Galena Park ISD, three of which are directly on campus.

That’s where Legacy Community Health stepped in and was vital to the health and well-being of students like 12-year-old Donovan, a 7th grader at Cunningham Middle School in Galena Park ISD. He is shy, but his mother knew it was more.

“He wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone,” said Michelle Fout, Donovan’s mother. “He just kept to himself and I can tell from his body language that he felt uncomfortable. So I asked him, ‘How would you like to talk to a therapist,’ and he was open to it.”

Legacy offers pediatrics, behavioral health, and even dental care.

GPISD is the only public school district with this type of convenient, high-quality health care.

“It’s quite under-recognized when it comes to students and families accessing high-quality health care,” said Stephanie Ramirez, Vice President of Operations at Legacy Community Health.

If a child is sick, with parental permission, the school nurse can take them directly to Legacy for treatment and they can return to the classroom.

“We can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful this partnership is in supporting the health and care of our students and also in being able to keep them in the classroom, which certainly helps us improve the curriculum and instruction for our students.” support, said Dr. . Mechelle Epps, GPISD, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services. “So often in communities like ours, where our parents may work hourly, the fact that they can take their child to the clinic to see a real professional in the medical field for whatever services they need is assured. that parents can continue to keep their jobs and that children can continue to go to school.”

Since 2020, they have served 35,707 students, their siblings and staff, including 13,767 pediatric visits and 22,000 behavioral health visits.

“Every day we see visits for wellness visits. That is usually the most requested type of appointment,” said Lorena Mottu, director of School-based Health and nurse practitioner for Legacy Community Health. “At this time of year we tend to see a lot of upper respiratory infections and colds. So not only do we do strep, flu and COVID tests, we also help control their asthma.”

Behavioral health was one of their main focuses. They provide support, therapy and psychological testing.

“(We) provide that safe space for them to be able to process what they’re going through, their emotions, and learn healthy coping skills,” said Eva Briones Fairley, director of behavioral health and therapist for Legacy Community Health.

Those are the things that made a difference for Donovan and his family.

“I think if a child isn’t at their best, they won’t be at their best, so it’s great that they have these services here for us,” Mout said.

“She taught me how to turn positive or negative thoughts into positive thoughts,” says Donovan. “It’s helped me become more social, talk to people and be less shy, and it’s just helped me get through things at school, in the future and at work.”

Dr. Epps of Galena Park ISD are now building new schools with Legacy Clinics in mind and want to expand to all 26 campuses in the future.