BUNNELL, Fla.– In 2021, AdventHealth and Flagler Schools announced a five-year partnership that represents a $750,000 commitment from the health system to provide a mental health fund for students, provide athletic trainers for each county high school and establish more career pathways for graduates.
“The agreement we have with AdventHealth has been transformative,” said Flagler School Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt. “It has enabled us to have access to much-needed services targeting the physical and mental health of our students, their families and the community.”
In the last 18 months, families in Flagler County have benefited from the new services, including:
- More than 460 student referrals for mental health services
- More than 50 Flagler Schools’ staff trained to identify students in need of services
- $20,000 contribution to Youth Mental Health First Aid training for school-based faculty and staff
- More than 370 sports physicals
- More than 300 electrocardiograms (ECGs)
- Two athletic trainers were hired for each high school in Flagler County
- Five students were hired as patient care technicians
Denyse Bales-Chubb, president and CEO of AdventHealth Palm Coast and market CEO for AdventHealth’s Flagler and St. Johns market, said the partnership has been crucial in providing new access to services for families in Flagler County.
“Our commitment, through our mental health fund, is to provide students with the resources and make those much-needed services accessible to them and their families,” said Bales-Chubb. “At AdventHealth, we are committed to supporting the entire community. We take care of the whole person -- not just the body but also the mind and spirit.”
As part of the partnership, AdventHealth hired athletic trainers for Flagler-Palm Coast High School and Matanzas High School. The health system also helped establish enhanced services for school athletic programs including concussion protocols and testing. To date, 378 sports physical exams for students have been given and 302 ECGs, two of them detected as high risk for sudden cardiac arrest. More than 3,800 treatments were performed on student athletes, an estimate of $59,691 in services rendered, free of charge to the students. In addition to tests, employees and volunteers have been trained in the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED). New dates for the screenings in 2023 will be announced later.
In addition, AdventHealth and Flagler Schools have established career opportunities for graduates such as coaching programs, job fairs and more.
“Community partners are essential to the success of our students and our schools,” said Teresa Rizzo, executive director of the Flagler County Education Foundation. “The results from our partnership with AdventHealth and Flagler Schools are incredible, and together we are making a difference in the lives of our students and their families.”