Legacy Community Health Partners with Galena Park ISD with Two In-School Pediatric Clinics

HOUSTON, TX – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) joined Legacy Community Health and Galena Park ISD in celebrating the opening of two school clinics. Legacy Community Health (Legacy), the largest federally qualified health center in Texas, has opened two clinics, one in each of two Galena Park I.S.D. campuses: North Shore Senior High School and Green Valley Elementary School. The clinics are a first-of-its-kind for Galena Park ISD, allowing students and their siblings direct access to pediatric and behavioral health services in Galena Park ISD, even as they start the 2020-2021 academic year virtually.

Amid the current worldwide health pandemic, Legacy has implemented telemedicine options for students to see health providers, with special accommodations for in-person visits on an as-needed basis. COVID-19 testing will also be available for students, their immediate family members, as well as school teachers and staff that meet testing criteria (as testing supplies remain available). Even though school is currently being done virtually, these vital mental health and medical services continue to be available to students and their families.

"Through the hard work of former Congressman Gene Green, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, and Galena Park I.S.D. leaders, I'm thrilled to see these clinics open for the students and their families," says Katy Caldwell, CEO of Legacy Community Health. "We have heard time and time again from parents how convenient our school-based clinics are for working families, and with the current pandemic, it couldn't have come at a better time. Parents don't have to leave work for appointments, and children don't have to miss class. For some working families and single-parent homes, our school-based clinics have been lifesavers. We hope to bring that same comfort and ease of care to the Galena Park community."

Legacy provides full-spectrum health care to communities. In addition to their standalone clinics in Houston, Baytown, Deer Park, and Beaumont, Legacy also operates a successful fleet of 25 other school-based facilities at YES Prep and KIPP schools. These clinics offer behavioral health care and pediatric care to more than 8500 students all across the Houston area. Students enrolled in Galena Park ISD now have access to the same Legacy care on their campuses.

"Galena Park ISD is very thankful for the opportunity to partner with Legacy Community Health to provide two convenient and patient-friendly pediatric/behavioral health school-based clinics for our students. We look forward to a long and mutually-beneficial relationship with Legacy Community Health," said Dr. John Moore, Superintendent, Galena Park ISD.

"This partnership between Legacy Health and Galena Park ISD is critically important for making sure that our children in the Galena Park community have access to the care they need. This is especially important for working families and single-parent households who otherwise would struggle to get their kids the health care they need. I look forward to continuing to work with Legacy and other partners to further expand school-based clinics across the district because all our kids must have access to life-saving health care," said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.

Parents of students seeking treatment will have the option of billing their insurance company or paying out of pocket on a sliding-scale basis as they would in any other Legacy clinic.

About Legacy Community Health

Legacy Community Health (Legacy) is a full-service network of community health clinics offering primary and specialty care in the Texas Gulf Coast region. Services include adult primary care, pediatrics, dental care, vision services, behavioral health services, OB/GYN and maternity, vaccinations and immunizations, health promotion and community outreach, wellness and nutrition, and comprehensive HIV/AIDS care. With 41 locations across Houston, Baytown, Deer Park, and Beaumont, Legacy is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Texas. Legacy has been a United Way-affiliated agency since 1990. To learn more, visit www.legacycommunityhealth.org.

###

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary and Financial Services Committees.