COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Schools in Columbus City launched a new health initiative called Edu Health Caravan on Saturday morning, and the district hopes to provide all members of the community with health services.
Event officials specifically chose to hold the event at La Plaza Tapatia at the top of the hill so that Spanish speakers in the area can get resources and support.
“If we really want to bring service to the community and meet them where they are, we have to go where they are. It’s just a vibrant sector of the community,” said Lee Cole, executive director of community engagement and partnerships at Columbus City Schools.
There were services for adults and children provided by Nationwide Children’s Hospital and PrimaryOne Health. Services included health screenings, vaccinations, sports physical exams, and information about Medicaid.
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The Columbus City Schools ESL program had a booth at the event, so there were no language barriers preventing someone from accessing health care.
“Probably 30-35% of our 8,000+ students are Spanish speaking, so it’s really important that we show our support that we’re here to support the region and, of course, our district,” said Michael Sain, director of the ESL program. .
Cole says the school district did a lot of research before launching this health initiative. She said they found gaps in service, so she hopes this initiative will help fill those gaps.
“We address the needs of the whole child,” Cole said. “If we can help support our families, our families, our families are the foundation of a student’s success, so they have what they need, our students have what they need.”
The Columbus City Schools ESL team says they believe this initiative will make a huge difference in the community. “Our families don’t know how to actually ask for these resources, so by hosting the event here in their community, we’re bringing it to them here,” said Myra Talley, the ESL program supervisor.
“There is a gap there, but we are closing it every day,” adds Sain.
Cole says there will be more events like this in the future. She wants to bring health care to as many communities as possible here in Columbus.
