ERLANGER — For parents who can't take time off work to run their children to the doctor, or who don't have the means to pay, a new partnership attempts to fill the gap.

        Two years ago, Northern Kentucky Family Health Centers Inc. and Silver Grove Schools opened one of the Tristate's first school-based health centers in the 287-student district.

        That partnership was such a success that the nonprofit health-care agency and Erlanger-Elsmere Independent Schools are opening two more clinics in that district.

        Residents can tour one of the Erlanger-Elsmere centers — a converted classroom in Tichenor Middle School — from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.

        Like the other school health centers, it offers primary care and lab services, immunizations and routine physical exams for the school's 520 students.

        The Tichenor center is equipped and ready to open as soon as it receives its license from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services, said Mary Burch, project director and health coordinator for Erlanger-Elsmere Independent Schools. The district's other health center will open in late March at Dorothy Howell Elementary School, which has about 270 pupils.

        The two Erlanger-Elsmere school health centers are funded with a $348,400 three-year grant from the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.

        So far, the foundation has invested $6 million in the planning and startup of school-based health centers in underserved locations, and it has 16 operating in Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

        “While all of the centers provide basic medical care, they also offer varying services,” said Kathryn Keller, program officer for school-based child health interventions with the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.

        “Some may offer dental programs,” she said. “Others may have higher mental health needs, and provide counseling for that. One center even has a pharmaceutical program for chronic ailments like diabetes and asthma.”

        Christopher Goddard, executive director of Northern Kentucky Family Health Centers Inc., said that local health officials have long been aware of the juggling act many working and single parents face when their children become ill.

        “As a result, the parents are missing work, the children are missing school, and the schools are missing out on income,” Mr. Goddard said.

        Even though the nonprofit health agency and Greater Cincinnati school systems were aware of the need, neither had the money to satisfy the need, Mr. Goddard said.

        That's where the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati entered the picture. In 1999, the foundation awarded eight grants to start school-based health centers in four Ohio and four Northern Kentucky schools.

        “We were looking at innovative ways to increase access to health services for underserved children,”

        Carol Clements, R.N., Silver Grove's school nurse and the coordinator of the Silver Grove school health center, said her center is especially helpful to local parents because the tiny Campbell County town has no medical providers or public transportation. Instead of waiting until a child is seriously ill and transporting him to a costly emergency room, parents often can get their child evaluated and treated during or after the school day.

        “I think parents like the fact that we're here and we're accessible,” Mrs. Clements said. “We had one mom who came in and said, "I don't have a car and I couldn't have gotten my daughter to the doctor.' It turned out the girl had strep throat and the nurse practitioner was able to prescribe medication for her.”

        In a survey of Erlanger-Elsmere parents, more than 90 percent said they had trouble getting their children to the doctor. Reasons ranged from problems getting off work or getting an appointment to having no regular doctor to the cost and lack of health insurance.

        As in the other school health centers, Ms. Burch sees center staff as working with the children's primary care physicians and keeping them informed of any medical problems.

        “Our goal is not to bypass the doctor, but to make sure kids get healthy quick,” Ms. Burch said.

Hotel tax bill hits snag
Jury finds for dad in bullying incident
Theory of life creates debate
Engine 17 takes TV show to heart
How now, famed cow? She's not quite sure yet
K-12 school plan picked by Monroe consensus
Orange barrels may be fading
PULFER: Pee-wee suit
RADEL: World Jammy Day
Some Good News
WELLS: Truth in begging
Irish leader talks peace
Kentucky A.M. Report
Ludlow studies redesigns
Teachers angry at subsidizing retirees
Tiny bugs bring down mighty trees
Trial begins in UK player slaying
Tuition at Thomas More up 7.6%
Boycott group asks for money
Catholic group changes gambling stance
Sod replacement could stop stadium turf wars
'Springer' guest charged with murder goes on trial
Bones inspire school tour
Butler will seek help on road plan
Gates move traffic woes?
Lebanon pushes back start of city-run telephone service
Lebanon renews park effort
Norwood school plan gets look-see
Relatives of fatal car victim want driver tried as juvenile
School health centers grow
Suspension rate higher for black pupils here
Tristate A.M. Report