Illinois Department of Public Health Funds School of Nursing’s School-Based Health Center

Congratulations to Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing instructor Amy O’Malley, RN, MSN, and Professor Diana Hackbarth, RN, PhD, FAAN, for receiving a $122,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Division of School Health Programs to help support the School of Nursing’s School-Based Health Center (SBHC) at Proviso East High School. 

“We’ve been here for 19 years, and we’ve been supported by a variety of grants, but one of the most important is the grant we get from the IDPH,” said Hackbarth.  

It costs around $600,000 to run the nurse managed SBHC, which is why Hackbarth says receiving the annual IDPH grant is essential.  

Other SBHC funders include the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Westlake Health Foundation, and Healthy Communities Foundation. Partners include Proviso Township School Districts 209 and Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview District 89. Loyola University Health System/Trinity Health provides laboratory services and access to an electronic health records system. 

The SBHC offers free primary health care, behavioral health, and nutrition services to help keep students healthy and succeed in school.   

As important, the SBHC also provides interprofessional, clinical experiences for nursing, dietetic, social work, and public health students as well as medical residents.  

During the 2018-19 school year, the SBHC enrolled 70 percent of the more than 1,600 Proviso East students from Maywood and surrounding communities at the clinic. At a recent accreditation visit, the IDPH rated SBHC an excellent program, the highest evaluation level it can receive. 

The SBHC is another example of Loyola’s commitment to social justice and outreach to underserved communities.