For more than 50 years, Affinia Healthcare, Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers, and Family Care Health Centers have worked to ensure that children and families throughout the St. Louis metropolitan region have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare regardless of their ability to pay. 

Today, the three Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) announced the launch of “STL First Bell Health”, a collaborative Back-to-School Health Initiative designed to help children begin the school year healthy, confident, and ready to learn. Through this partnership, families will have early access to school and sports physicals, childhood immunizations, behavioral health screenings, dental services, and other essential preventive healthcare services before the first day of school. 

To expand access and reach underserved communities, the initiative will utilize both the health centers’ brick-and-mortar locations and multiple mobile medical units deployed throughout the region. By bringing services directly into neighborhoods and communities where families live, work, and gather, the partners aim to reduce barriers and ensure students receive required healthcare services before classes begin. 

As part of the initiative, each FQHC will host Back-to-School events and outreach activities offering: 

• School and sports physicals 

• Childhood immunizations 

• Behavioral health screenings 

• Dental services and oral health education 

• Preventive health screenings 

• Enrollment assistance and connections to primary care services 

• Referrals to community resources and family support programs 

Families will also have access to information and support services designed to help children maintain their health and well-being throughout the school year. 

“Every child deserves the opportunity to start the school year healthy and ready to succeed,” said the participating community health center leaders. “By working together and leveraging both our health center locations and mobile health units, we can provide earlier access to essential healthcare services, reduce barriers to care, and help families meet school health requirements before the first day of class.” 

The STL First Bell Health initiative reflects the longstanding commitment of St. Louis’ community health centers to improving health outcomes through prevention, collaboration, and equitable access to care. By coordinating resources and services across their organizations, the three FQHCs are strengthening their collective impact and helping ensure that every student has the opportunity to start the school year prepared to learn and thrive. 

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to schedule school physicals, immunizations, and other back-to-school healthcare services well in advance of the first day of school to avoid delays and ensure students meet school enrollment requirements. 

Dates, locations, and additional information about Back-to-School events and services can be found on the participating health centers’ websites: 

• Affinia Healthcare, https://affiniahealthcare.org/ 

• Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers, https://phcenters.org/ 

• Family Care Health Centers, https://familycarehealthcenters.org/ 

Together, St. Louis’ community health centers remain dedicated to ensuring every child has access to the healthcare, support, and resources needed for a healthy and successful school year—because healthy students are better prepared to learn, grow, and achieve their full potential. 

About the St. Louis Community Health Centers 

Affinia Healthcare, Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers, and Family Care Health Centers have provided comprehensive healthcare services to the St. Louis metropolitan region for more than 50 years. As Federally Qualified Health Centers, they offer primary medical care, dental services, behavioral health care, pharmacy services, and preventive health programs regardless of a patient’s insurance status or ability to pay. Together, they are committed to advancing health equity, strengthening communities, and ensuring that every family has access to quality, compassionate healthcare. 

For any media inquiries related please contact each organization’s media liaison:  

• Affinia Healthcare: Schalene Houston-Butler, Director of Communications, shouston@affiniahealthcare.org, 314-964-7793 

• Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers: Jahara Davis, Director of Communications, jdavis@phcenters.com, 314-367-7848 

• Family Care Health Centers: Sylvia Petty, Marketing & PR Manager, spetty@fchcstl.org, 314-949-6876