Bolinsky, Hwang Celebrate Newtown Middle School Health Center Grand Opening
NEWTOWN — State Sen. Tony Hwang (R-28) and state Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) joined with education and town officials Friday in celebrating the opening of a school-based health center at Newtown Middle School.
Funded by a grant award from the Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH), the licensed out-patient facility — strategically and conveniently located next to the Nurse’s Office — is sponsored by the Connecticut Institute For Communities, Inc. (CIFC) It is the fourth such school-based facility sponsored by CIFC, and joins more than 92 DPH-funded health centers statewide and more than 2,200 centers nationally.
According to a press release from CIFC, the location of the new health center was determined by a local Newtown community planning group as a long-term approach to addressing the need for medical and behavioral health services as documented by a steady increase in student visits to the nurse’s office, and the reported waiting list for mental health services requested by middle school-aged children in Newtown.
“I’m so pleased to see the way Newtown is embracing the concept of bringing health services to our students, to promote their physical and emotional well-being and provide them with professional care when they are sick or in need of support,” Senator Hwang said. “The healthier our students are, the more they are in school and the more they can learn and interact with their peers. That’s a win for everyone.”
Rep. Bolinsky said, “I’m grateful for all those who worked so hard to help us bring this school-based health resource to our Middle School and to CFIC for it’s sponsorship. Being one of fewer than 100 of such centers in the state makes this a special day for Newtown . This will be a great asset to local families with school age children who have limited time or resources to gain quick access to medical treatment or behavioral supports on a preventative or early interventional basis. That’s good medicine!”