Free health clinic offers primary care services to southern Indiana families

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Southern Indiana is celebrating the grand opening of a new school-based health center.

The ribbon was cut Friday on the new Healthy Eagle Clinic at Austin Elementary School. It will provide primary care acute and same-day care, mental health services and sports physicals.

It's designed to expand access to care for all students in Scott County School District 1, with no out-of-pocket cost to families.

During Friday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, Scott County School District 1 Superintendent Trevor Jones said he wanted to establish a free clinic, "but then COVID hit."

Jones said students can't be expected to focus on their school work when they're not physically healthy or if there are problems at home. And he wants to make sure that there are no out-of-pocket costs for people using the center. "So we had to figure out a way to make it free for every student," he said.

That's where the Morgan Family Fund at the Scott County Community Foundation stepped in to help.

"Overall, we have a lot of poverty in this town, and one thing as the superintendent for the last seven years I've worked very hard that our kids are not charged for anything," Jones said. "I want equal opportunity for every kid we have without stigma being attached to that."

The clinic is free for students and staff, and Jones said all costs are covered by the Morgan Family Fund.

Free health clinic offers primary care services to southern Indiana families