Springfield City School District’s School Based Health Center underpins a belief shared by many educators: Students can’t learn if they’re not healthy. This simple truth was the driving force behind the creation of the clinic housed in Springfield High School, which opened in the fall of 2024. Through a partnership, local healthcare provider
Rocking Horse Community Health Center delivers services.
In some ways, this development was a long time coming. For years, the district faced challenges with student attendance and engagement, often tied to unmet health needs.
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Springfield City School District’s School Based Health Center
“We heard from families and staff during strategic planning that access to healthcare was a major issue,” Community Outreach Coordinator Anita Biles says. “If students aren’t feeling well, they’re not in the building, and that impacts everything from attendance to graduation rates.”
The need for accessible healthcare became even more urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted gaps in the system.
“We realized we needed a solution that brought healthcare directly to students,” says Amanda Ambrosio, Rocking Horse Executive Director of the School Based Health Center. “That’s how the partnership with Rocking Horse Community Health Center came to life.”
The health center opened its doors last year, offering a wide range of services to students, their families, and district staff. It employs a full-time family nurse practitioner, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and two therapists. Staff handles everything from sick visits and immunizations to mental health counseling and vision services, Ambrosio says.
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An exam room at Springfield City School District’s School Based Health CenterThe center also prioritizes prevention, a key facet of wellness.
“We’ve been using mobile units to bring immunizations and physicals to students who might not otherwise access them,” Biles says. “This ensures no student is left behind.”
The partnership between the district and Rocking Horse has been key to the center’s success. According to Ambrosio, it’s been helpful for both parties. In her experience, the district has been incredibly supportive and attentive to meeting the health needs of the district's students, parents, and the greater Springfield community.
As Ambrosio contends, the proof is in the metrics. In its first year, the health center logged more than 4,000 visits, with more than 1,000 representing high school students.
“We’ve saved students countless hours of seat time,” Ambrosio says. “Instead of leaving school for appointments, they can get care on-site and return to class.”
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Staff at the Health Center perform an exam on a student.The center’s impact extends beyond healthcare, however.
“We’ve been able to address immediate needs like food and clothing through our advocacy program,” says Biles. “For example, when we learned a student was sleeping on the floor, we coordinated with staff to provide an air mattress and bedding within 24 hours.”
Despite its success, the health center faces challenges. For example, Ambrosio says the staff’s biggest hurdle is keeping up with demand. Counselors are booked weeks in advance. Clinic leaders are working to expand services like dental care, too.
Funding is another wild card.
“As a federally qualified health center, we rely on federal funds, but that’s not guaranteed,” Ambrosio says. “We’re also working to improve outreach, especially to families who may not know these services are available.”
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An exam room at Springfield City School District’s School Based Health CenterThe center accepts insurance and also offers financial assistance based on household income and family size for those who qualify.
According to the 2023 American Community Survey data, more than 8% of the county's residents lack health insurance.
Cultural and language barriers add layers of complexity. According to Biles, the staff have facilitated the translation of materials into five languages. They also rely on interpreters, but there’s still work to be done to build trust with all families. More than 2% of the county’s population is foreign-born, and about 4% speak another language at home, according to the same survey data.
The health center’s first year has underscored the importance of meeting students, families, and community members where they are.
“This isn’t just about healthcare; it’s about creating a culture of care,” says Ambrosio.
Looking ahead, the team is focused on expanding services. Per Ambrosio, the center could add dental care and mobile vision services as early as next year. In the meantime, she says they’re committed to ongoing outreach to ensure every student knows about this important resource.
For the Springfield community, the health center is more than a clinic — it’s a lifeline.
“When students are healthy, they’re in school, they’re learning, and they’re thriving,” says Biles. “That’s what this is all about.”