Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
Learn how local students are benefiting from a new onsite health clinic
Reading time: 5 minutes
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Fairfield High Preparatory School students now have easier access to healthcare, thanks to a partnership with Cahaba Medical Care.
Students are provided essential services through an onsite clinic, from checkups and immunizations to sports physicals and counseling.
Keep reading to learn how this clinic is boosting both the school system and the community.
A lifeline for marginalized communities
Everyone deserves affordable and accessible healthcare. Cahaba Medical Care, a local community-based nonprofit, is helping make this a reality for marginalized communities in the Greater Birmingham area by providing comprehensive primary care services.
After successfully launching school-based health centers in four Fairfield City School District schools, the organization expanded its reach by opening its first high school clinic at Fairfield High Preparatory School last year.
Why do school-based health centers matter?
- They support better academic performance + higher graduation rates.
- They make it easier for students, teachers + staff to access healthcare.
- They offer vital services like sick visits + annual checkups + counseling..
An inside look at Fairfield High Preparatory School’s health center
If you think temperature checks and a place to rest are all school health centers can provide students, guess again.
I had the chance to visit Cahaba Medical Care’s clinic at Fairfield High Preparatory School, and as a parent, I was blown away by the services Cahaba Medical Care provides. Yes, students can visit the school nurse for a temperature check or to lie down if they are feeling under the weather, but at Cahaba they can also receive services such as:
- Pediatric + primary care
- Routine immunizations
- Sick + well visits
- Urgent care
- Behavioral health counseling
Students’ health needs are taken care of at the clinic during school hours. This is a huge win for working parents and caregivers who might find it difficult to take time off for a doctor’s visit.
Wondering what the clinic is like? At Fairfield, it’s set up in a former home economics classroom on the school’s second floor. It’s equipped with all the necessary medical supplies and devices you’d see in a typical urgent care facility, like blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, and exam tables with dividers for patient privacy.
Though it’s a simple makeshift space, the friendly and professional staff—including Nurse Practitioners, Counselors, Medical Assistants, an RN, and more—create a warm and safe environment for all students who visit.
“This is heart work. Hard work, yes, but also heart work. We don’t do this for money. We do this because we are passionate about it and we want to make a difference in these students’ lives.”
Veronica Ford, Nursing Manager, Cahaba Medical Care
Bringing critical mental health support directly to students
For students, having access to mental health services is more critical now than ever, and Cahaba Medical Care is meeting this need head-on at Fairfield High Preparatory School.
With two licensed social workers on-site, Cahaba provides essential behavioral health counseling, ensuring students have immediate access to support when they need it most. These services offer a safe space for students to navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, family stressors, and bullying—issues that can significantly impact their well-being and academic success.
Additionally, Cahaba recently launched Alabama’s first and only school-based outpatient Substance Use Disorder program for adolescents at Fairfield High Preparatory School. This innovative program provides prevention, early intervention, and treatment for students who are experimenting with or using illicit substances.
By embedding these critical services within the school setting, Cahaba Medical Care is breaking down barriers to care and equipping students with the tools they need to thrive—both in and beyond the classroom.
Supporting student athletes
The clinic has also proven helpful for Fairfield’s sports teams.
Coach Maurice Ford, who has coached basketball for more than 30 years at various schools, including Parker High School, J.O. Johnson and now Fairfield, has seen firsthand how beneficial the clinic is for his athletes.
“The clinic is very helpful, especially around flu season. The clinic is right upstairs, so if the guys get sick, we can get them quick medical attention.
It also makes team physicals easier. We don’t have to worry about transporting kids to the doctor because the clinic is right here.”
Veronica Ford, Nursing Manager, Cahaba Medical Care
Sports physicals can also open the door for students to discover health problems they didn’t know they had.
“We often uncover underlying health issues that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. A student may need glasses, or we might detect an irregular heart rhythm that requires further evaluation. Our goal isn’t just to clear students to return to class or the basketball court; we ensure they get the healthcare they truly need.”
Veronica Ford, Nursing Manager, Cahaba Medical Care
Sports physicals can also open the door for students to discover health problems they didn’t know they had.
“We often uncover underlying health issues that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. A student may need glasses, or we might detect an irregular heart rhythm that requires further evaluation. Our goal isn’t just to clear students to return to class or the basketball court; we ensure they get the healthcare they truly need.”
Veronica Ford, Nursing Manager, Cahaba Medical Care
To find out more about how Cahaba Medical Care is helping marginalized areas around Birmingham, visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Instagram + LinkedIn.
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