District and Edgewater Health report soft launch of Westside school-based clinic, construction to finish in March

Edgewater Health and Gary Community School Corporation staff updated the board on Feb. 19 about the Westside school-based health clinic build-out and a limited soft launch. District staff reported plumbing and drywall work is nearly complete and estimated construction completion by the end of March; Edgewater said the clinic had a soft launch Jan. 28 and saw two primary-care patients that day.

Dr. Karen Bishop Morris of Edgewater Health described current temporary hours and services: behavioral-health visits are scheduled on half days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) while primary care operates on Wednesday afternoons during the phased rollout. She said Edgewater has coordinated IT, privacy workflows and referral pathways with district nurses and counseling staff and is planning parent-education sessions and a community advisory council to track metrics and usage.

Edgewater’s team emphasized confidentiality, collaboration and student voice as priorities. "This school-based health clinic is everyone's school-based health clinic," Dr. Bishop Morris told the board, noting the program aligns with guidance from the National School-Based Health Alliance and HHS/HERSA requirements. The superintendent’s staff also credited district nurses and leadership for coordination and praised temporary clinic staff who have already seen students on campus.

Next steps: Construction teams will finish remaining fixtures and flooring; staff will continue phased staffing and outreach, build a school/community advisory council and establish a youth advisory group. Edgewater and district leaders asked the board to approve ongoing collaboration logistics and to allow targeted communications to families as services expand.