WATERTOWN, NY — North Country Family Health Center (NCFHC) is pleased to announce its School-Based Health & Dental Program at the Mannsville Manor Elementary, 423 North Main Street, Mannsville is celebrating its 15 th year of providing medical, behavioral health, and dental services to the students of Mannsville Manor. NCFHC will host a celebration on Tuesday, November 15 th thanking staff at the elementary school for their support of the Program.
“Mannsville Manor Elementary is a very special site as it was our first School-Based Health Center to open within the South Jefferson Central School District,” comments Joey Marie Horton, Chief Executive Officer, North Country Family Health Center. “We are very excited to celebrate our 15 years of collaboration with the South Jefferson School District in our common pursuit of improving the health and wellness of the students within the District. It is our honor and privilege to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality services to the students of Mannsville Manor Elementary.” Startup funding for the Mannsville site was provided by a $65,000 grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation.
Mannsville Elementary School-Based Health Center is staffed, Monday through Friday, by a family nurse practitioner, a patient service representative who coordinates student visits to the nurse practitioner, and a licensed clinical social worker who provides behavioral health services. Staff care for students when they are sick or if they experience chronic care issues such as diabetes or asthma. Well child and annual physical exams are also offered to students – additionally, testing can be done for the flu, COVID, and strep throat. In addition, the School- Based Health Center offers preventative dental services with the help of a licensed dental hygienist and a patient service representative who schedules regular dental cleanings for the students on a rotating basis.
“All students are eligible to enroll in the School-Based Program regardless of income or current healthcare provider. Enrollment is a great back-up plan in case a student cannot get into their healthcare provider when ill or work or transportation barriers occur,” comments Heather Lupia, School-Based Health Center Program Administrator. “We are proud to serve the over 220 students enrolled at our Mannsville program this year.”
In addition to the Mannsville Manor Elementary School, NCFHC also hosts a similar School-Based Health & Dental Program at Maynard P. Wilson Elementary. South Jefferson Middle and High School students can utilize the Mannsville Elementary or Wilson Elementary site, for their medical and behavioral health needs too. Preventative dental services are provided at Clarke Middle/High School. Similar to South Jefferson Central School District, NCFHC has School-Based Health Centers within the Watertown City School District at North Elementary, Wiley Elementary, Case Middle School, and Watertown High School. NCFHC provides dental only sites at Alexandria Central, Copenhagen Central, Lowville Academy & Central School, Lyme Central, South Lewis School Districts, and at the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES.
“As the building leader, I see many benefits of having the Health Center in our building. With the school located at the southern end of Jefferson County, having health care on-site saves families time, money, and much more,” comments Jim Pelton, Principal, Mannsville Manor Elementary. “Our students can be seen simply by walking down to the Health Center and they are able to return quickly to class. There is less time away from instruction and they receive quality care here on campus. The staff is friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend that all our families enroll in their services.”
North Country Family Health Center provides high-quality, affordable healthcare to
nearly 13,000 North Country residents annually at its 4 community-based locations in Watertown, Lowville, and LeRay and at its 12 school-based locations. The Health Center also provides nutritious food vouchers and other support to approximately 4,200 pregnant women, infants, and children each month through its WIC Program; assists approximately 1,500 individuals with insurance enrollment annually; and provides special initiatives to help high-risk pregnant and parenting women and individuals who have insecure housing.
For more information about North Country Family Health Center or its programs, visit www.NoCoFamilyHealth.org or call (315) 782-9450.