Written by SCHOLAR Clinic

School is an important part of a child’s development, impacting their overall cognitive, social and emotional growth. Many of us have memories of playing on the jungle gym or experiencing a lightbulb moment when learning something new. But imagine scoring well on a big test when your tooth was aching, trying to take notes when you can’t see the chalkboard, or playing with friends when your throat was sore. It’s hard for a child to be present to learn when their body is in need of care.

To help students stay learning in school by connecting them to the care they need, SCHOLAR Clinic was created. The school-based clinic is a collaboration between Columbia Public Schools (CPS), Clarity Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and the Sinclair School of Nursing. SCHOLAR Clinic can provide everything that a primary care office offers such as sick visits, hearing and vision screenings, vaccines and labs. Clarity Healthcare is affiliated with Burrell Behavioral Health which enables the clinic to quickly and seamlessly refer patients to behavioral and mental health care.

The clinic is available to all CPS students and focuses on serving low-income, uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid-covered students. The clinic offers same day appointments to help students be seen and treated so they can return quickly to class.

SCHOLAR Clinic never wants cost to be a barrier to care. Clarity’s sliding fee program allows families who are uninsured or underinsured to receive services for a fee that is adjusted based on their ability to pay. Students who are on the school district’s free or reduced-price school lunch program have services available to them at no cost. Two out of five CPS students are on free or reduced-price school lunch.

Making a difference—one student at a time

The School of Nursing staffs the clinic with a nurse practitioner and also conducts educational programs, available to the 40 school nurses assigned throughout the CPS school district. Alumni Megan Kruse is the clinic’s pediatric nurse practitioner, and she has taken steps to make the space welcoming and comforting for children. The clinic’s examination rooms are decorated with bright colors, animal artwork and paper garlands. 

SCHOLAR Clinic, located on Rangeline St., has made great strides during its first year, administrating 677 vaccines and completing 142 sports physicals. All of SCHOLAR’s sports physicals are offered for free to help increase student access to sports and other clubs. Of the 796 students served, SCHOLAR was able to help 54% of students return to the classroom after a clinic visit in the first year.

SCHOLAR Clinic serves a large and growing community of individuals in which English is not their first language. Translation services have become a key part of the clinic’s operations. Of the patients who offered to report their first language, SCHOLAR Clinic staff recorded 12 different ones. About 250 patients chose not to report their spoken language. Providing translation resources to families and patients helps break down the confusion of the healthcare system and steps in treatment which connects students to care faster.

In addition to healthcare, SCHOLAR Clinic’s team addresses broader needs including insurance enrollment, food or housing insecurity, employment, transportation and connections to resource organizations in Columbia.

SCHOLAR Clinic Services:

Primary Care Services:

• Acute visits (sore throat, fever, sprained ankle, etc.)
• Preventative visits
• Sports physicals
• Vision services
• Free vaccines through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program
• In-house lab services (strep tests, influenza, etc.)
• Reference lab services

Referrals to Dental Services

Counseling Services:

• Behavioral assessments and evaluations
• Referrals to counseling sessions for individuals and/or family
• Referrals to trauma-focused counseling with licensed or licensed-eligible counselors specializing in trauma
• Referrals to substance use disorder counseling services and treatment