Families in the Enka School District have a new resource, as the Enka Health Hangar officially opened for care on the campus of Enka Middle School. The facility's name is a nod to the Enka mascot, the Jets.
This school-based health center is one of 36 operated by Blue Ridge Health in western North Carolina. School-based health centers offer comprehensive care, including medical, dental, counseling, and prescriptions. They are open whenever the school is open, and no students are denied services based on their ability to pay. Private and public health insurance is accepted, and sliding-scale fees are also available for those who qualify. Parent or guardian consent is required for students to access health care and screenings.
“We believe strongly in the school-based health program that our organization has offered for more than 30 years," said Dr. Richard Hudspeth, family physician and CEO for Blue Ridge Health. These services promote well-being, positive health outcomes, and economic advantages for the school families in our communities, and we could not provide them without the kind of community collaboration that has been shown for the Enka Health Hanger.”
School-based health centers have proven to be a wise investment in both the health and education of youth and families. Benefits include easy-to-access health care on the school campus, which addresses challenges related to transportation and parental work schedules; early detection and treatment of illness can reduce the need for expensive treatment down the road and can keep children out of emergency rooms, saving families stress and money. On-site treatment can keep students in schools, decreasing absenteeism, which is a crucial component to staying on track for graduation. School-based health centers have been shown to strengthen the connection between schools and families.
“Aligning community partners, rallying resources, and mobilizing volunteers is in our DNA,” said Dan Leroy, president and CEO at United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. “We can’t think of a better reason to celebrate than to see that those skills were used to ensure youth and families have better access to quality health care. United Way is proud to have brought together the partners and resources needed to establish this center and continue our efforts to build hubs of support for the families in the Enka District and 8 other schools across our county year-round.”
"Our Enka students and families are proud to be Jets, and we're very proud of the community partnerships that have helped make the Enka Health Hangar a reality," shared Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Dr. Rob Jackson.
After a ceremonial ribbon cutting including student ambassadors known as the Enka Jet Setters, visitors toured the facility.
“We were thrilled to celebrate this moment with our community and partners,” said Principal Amberle Clarke. “We are blessed to have this resource on our campus to help keep our Jets soaring."
Last year, Erwin Middle Schools Welcome Warrior Wellness Center opened. The effort to grow school-based health centers in Buncombe County Schools is made possible through the support and partnership of the school system with Blue Ridge Health, MAHEC Family Health Centers, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, and United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. This initiative is funded by Buncombe County Government, Dogwood Health Trust, the U.S. Department of Education, and local donations.