Mich. schools get $1M grant for dental, medical clinic

A grant for nearly $1 million will help fund a new medical and dental clinic based at a Michigan public school district, which had the highest emergency room charity caseload in its catchment area.

The Oakridge Public Schools was awarded the grant from the state's Child & Adolescent Health Center Program, according to an mlive.com story. The center will begin offering medical services next fall.

To cover operating expenses, the grant will provide $195,000 a year for five years. About half a million additional dollars will be needed to renovate spaces at the middle and high schools for the medical and dental clinic. A capital campaign will be launched to raise those funds.

The health center will serve only students during school hours and be open to the general community during other times. Staff will include a physician's assistant, nurses, dentist, dental hygienist, and master's-level social worker.

The community has the highest emergency room charity caseload in Mercy Health Muskegon's service area because of a lack of primary care providers, school officials said.