FRANKFORT (Sept. 17, 2024) — Adena Local Schools and Adena Health celebrated the groundbreaking today for a $10.5 million Warrior Wellness Center funded in part through Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s historic investment in Ohio’s Appalachian communities.

Adena’s school-based health center, housed in the Warrior Wellness Center, will be operated by Adena Health. This center is one of the largest projects made possible through the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, a $64 million investment announced in March by Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted that includes dozens of projects to improve access to health care in 36 communities across 20 Appalachian counties in Ohio.

“For children to do their best, they need to feel their best,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. “This center will not only support students’ health and well-being, but it will contribute significantly to their overall success in the classroom.”

The health clinic will occupy approximately 2,000 square feet in a more than 19,000-square-foot wellness center, located near the school in the district’s athletic field complex. Serving students, school staff and members of the Frankfort and Clarksburg communities, the facility will offer a variety of health, wellness and social services including comprehensive primary care, primary care mental health services and pharmacy services, which will eliminate an existing pharmacy desert for Clarksburg and address a critical community need. The anticipated opening of the health center is October 2025 with final completion of the facility expected by April 2026.

“We are thrilled to begin construction on the Warrior Wellness Center. It will make an incredible difference for our students, our families and our communities. Most importantly, the clinic will help ensure that our students are as healthy as possible so they can be successful in the classroom,” said Matthew Unger, superintendent of Adena Local Schools. “It will also become a huge community resource for our school district and for Frankfort and Clarksburg.”

The center also will include spaces for community meetings and physical fitness classes, an indoor walking track, and offices for behavioral health and other community-serving organizations. On-site primary care clinical services will be offered five days a week through Adena Health with a primary care provider and support staff. This is the next step in supporting health and wellness for students. Adena’s school-based mobile clinic is in its second year providing primary care services at Adena schools.

“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Adena Local Schools and be a part of this transformational project that will not only help ensure the health and well-being of students and staff, but also drive access to health care and pharmacy services for the entire community. Our mission is 'called to serve our communities,' and I can’t think of a better example of serving our community than providing health and pharmacy services at the future Warrior Wellness Center,” said Jeff Graham, president and chief executive officer, Adena Health.

The Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative will create 16 new school-based health centers, along with mobile care services, behavioral health services, dental services and mobile vision services.

“For generations, Ohioans living in Appalachia have turned big dreams into even bigger realities, building industries, forging communities, and carving out a legacy of resilience and innovation that has defined Ohio,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “By addressing the holistic health needs of students and staff, and by providing resources for Frankfort residents, the new Adena Local Schools Warrior Wellness Center exemplifies the transformative power of community-driven solutions.”

This grant was made possible with support from the Appalachian Children Coalition and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“The lack of access to convenient health services leads to any number of negative health and educational outcomes. School-based health centers, like this one in Adena schools, will provide accessible services that are so desperately needed. It will also provide much-needed pharmacy services to the Frankfort and Clarksburg communities, so people get access to their essential medications. We share Gov. DeWine’s commitment to our children and know that our many partners in this effort do, too,” said Randy Leite, PhD, executive director of the Appalachian Children Coalition.

The project incorporates built-in technical assistance support from Nationwide Children’s Hospital to ensure seamless implementation across all projects and sustained success.

“Many of these children don’t have a medical home or access to important primary care services,” said Mary Kay Irwin, EdD, senior director of school health services for Nationwide Children’s, which operates 17 school-based primary care clinics in central Ohio and has supported the development of school health models in over 38 Ohio counties. “We know healthier students are better learners and are excited about the impact this school health center will make in the community for years to come.”