CHILLICOTHE, OH (August 21, 2026) – Building on its commitment to make quality care more accessible in the communities it serves, Adena Health on Thursday dedicated its school-based clinic on the Huntington Local Schools campus.
The Huntsmen Clinic is part of a broader expansion of school-based health services across the region. In addition to last year’s school-based clinic opening at Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center and this year’s dedication of clinics in the Adena, Chillicothe, Huntington, and Union-Scioto school districts, Adena is growing its network of school-based health centers and clinics to meet increasing demand and ensure more students and educators have access to care where they learn and work.
“At Adena Health, our mission regarding school-based health is simple: Keeping care close to home,” said Kathi Edrington, Adena president and CEO. “We know when students are healthy, they’re more likely to attend class, stay focused, and succeed. That’s why we’re so proud to partner with the Huntington Local School District to open a clinic that brings quality care directly to them.”
The Huntsmen Clinic, working in partnership with families and the school nurse, will offer a wide spectrum of care, including:
- Chronic condition management for conditions such as asthma and diabetes
- Immunizations
- Mental health services
- Physicals
- Primary and preventive care
“This is about opening a door to greater access, greater opportunity, and a healthier future for the students and families of this community,” said Pete Ruby, Huntington Local Schools superintendent. “We know access to care can sometimes be challenging, and this clinic helps change that. We are creating an environment where taking care of your health doesn’t have to wait until later, it can become part of our students’ everyday success.
“This clinic also represents something bigger. It shows what’s possible when schools, healthcare providers, community partners, and families come together around a common goal. That goal is to have every student have the opportunity to be healthy, supported, and ready to succeed.”
For more than 20 years, Adena has partnered with schools across south central and southern Ohio to bring care directly into the school setting. What began with athletic training services has grown into a comprehensive school-based health strategy that now serves more than 25,000 students and 4,000 staff members across 12 districts.
Adena opened its first school-based clinic in 2019 at Jackson Middle School, and demand for services has continued to grow. Through in-school visits, the Adena Mobile Clinic, and school-based clinics, Adena is working with educators, parents, and community partners to ensure students and school staff have the care they need to stay healthy, succeed in the classroom, and thrive in life.
A 2024 grant from the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, prepared by Nationwide Children’s Hospital on behalf of the Appalachian Children Coalition, has supported the development of five school-based health centers and clinics, including those in the Huntington, Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center, Adena Local, Chillicothe City, and Union-Scioto school districts. Adena and Nationwide Children’s have previously partnered on school health initiatives and will continue to collaborate through shared expertise, technical assistance, and training. The funding has also helped expand Adena’s mobile clinic services to bring care to more families across south central and southern Ohio.
These school-based health centers are also supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $408,404 with 76% funded by CMS/HHS and 24% funded by Ohio State General Revenue Funding. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ODH, NCH, ACGP, CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Learn more about Adena’s school-based health efforts at Adena.org/SchoolCare.