DeWine Announces Completion of Appalachian Children's Health Initiative Clinics
COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine and Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced on October 7 the successful conclusion of the Appalachian Children's Health Initiative, which invested more than $64 million to expand healthcare access for children and families in Ohio's Appalachian region. The initiative's final clinic, located within the Chillicothe City School District, opened last week, completing 29 clinics funded through the program.
Most of the 29 clinics are school-based and operate in partnership with 16 regional healthcare partners, serving 34 school districts. Services vary by location but include comprehensive primary care, dental, vision and mental health services for children, families and community members. Since the first clinic opened in 2024, the sites have accommodated nearly 33,000 patient visits, including more than 21,000 child visits, saving an average of 3.19 hours of learning time per student.
"Too many children in Appalachia have had to travel long distances to get even basic healthcare. Today, more families can find that care close to home, including right at their child's school," DeWine said. The initiative was created with support from the Ohio General Assembly and funded as part of the governor's Appalachian Community Grant Program, which invested $500 million into Ohio's 32-county Appalachian region. Funding was awarded to the Appalachian Children Coalition, and Nationwide Children's Hospital provided proposal and implementation support. Since 2019, the DeWine administration has invested approximately $2 billion in Ohio's Appalachian counties, according to the Department of Development.
Sources: Office of the Ohio Governor; Ohio Department of Development
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Chillicothe 市景，俄亥俄州。Chillicothe, Ohio. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
