Regional collaboration results in health care facility for kids

With tears of happiness and smiles, dozens of people celebrated the opening of a school-based health clinic in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, on Tuesday.

Two years ago, the Excelsior Springs School District, Swope Health Services, MARC Head Start and Diversity Telehealth envisioned a place where families could receive affordable and easy-to-access health care for their children. The place is the newest Swope Health KidsCARE clinic at the Excelsior Springs Early Childhood Center, which is also one of MARC’s Head Start locations. MARC’s Head Start program is dedicated to improving the well-being of more than 2,400 infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families in Clay, Platte and Jackson counties in Missouri.

The school-based health clinic is an example of collaboration involving educators, health care providers, child care providers, families and community members. At the grand opening, speakers recognized the many individuals and organizations that worked on the project. From securing the location, providing funding to mapping out the health care services, collaboration was key. The grand opening was also a time to express thanks and appreciation to others who supported – North American Savings Bank (NASB), T-Mobile, Delta Dental, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved and Missouri Telehealth Network.

Clinic open now
Starting this week, the clinic is open for pediatric medical visits from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every third Monday and pediatric dental visits from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Families in the Excelsior Springs School District can make an appointment by calling 816-321-3249 or visiting swopehealth.org/kidscare-registration/.

MARC Director of Early Learning and Head Start Department Dr. Toni Sturdivant delivered congratulations at the grand opening before guests toured the health care facilities.

“We all know how important health care, including preventive health care, is to a child's success,” Sturdivant said. “Today, we celebrate another step forward in ensuring our children have what they need to succeed. Thank you for this gift we celebrate today!”