Kids can get dental, medical care at this local school without parents taking off work
The Bethel School District has a new clinic where students and staff can receive medical, dental and behavioral health care all under one roof.
The school-based health center at Graham-Kapowsin High School had its grand opening event Oct. 7. The health center at 22100 108th Ave. E. is open to students and staff in the school district. The new building is connected to the school.
Community Health Care is the provider. They accept patients with or without insurance. They have a sliding fee scale based on household income and family size. They can help with immunizations, stomachaches, broken teeth and anxiety, among other things.
Audria Cordova-Kennedy, assistant director of clinical operations at Community Health Care, said they don’t turn away anyone who needs help. Parents would be notified about what happens before, during and after their child’s visit.
The health center cost about $2 million, Bethel School District Superintendent Tom Seigel said. Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) helped secure federal funding.
That $2 million built the clinic. Community Health Care will fund its operations, such as through patient fees and government grants.
“There is no hospital out here,” Seigel said. “The number of clinics or places for medical services is very limited.”
The school district has about 3,500 students. Graham-Kapowsin High School Principal Matt Yarkosky said 2,000 of them are at the high school.
Yarkosky said the school district is still working on staffing the health center, so it may not be ready until early November. He said he’s excited about getting mental health service providers in the area.
“We always struggle to find and get mental health providers out to East Pierce County,” Yarkosky said.
A perk of having a school-based health center is not needing to miss a full or half day of school, Seigel said. Students can walk to the health center, and parents don’t have to take off work, he said.
This is the second health center in the school district. The first health center opened in 2020 at Bethel Middle School. There are plans to open a third health center at Spanaway Middle School, Seigel said.
Those interested in scheduling an appointment can call Community Health Care at 253-722-1793.
This story was originally published October 29, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
