Family Centers Opens New School Based Health Center In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — Family Centers officially marked the opening of its new full-service School Based Health Center (SBHC) at Turn of River Middle School with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 22.

At the request of Rep. Jim Himes, Family Centers received a $1 million grant as part of the federal omnibus funding package that was passed in December 2022 to support the project.

Himes joined representatives from Family Centers, Stamford Public Schools (SPS) and the City of Stamford at Turn of River Middle School to discuss the importance of increasing access to medical and mental health care for the City’s youth.

The new health center was built in an unused locker room and adds primary medical care to the existing mental health services available to Turn of River students.

Himes, Family Centers’ CEO Louis Josephson, Family Centers’ Chief Health Officer Dennis Torres, SPS Superintendent Tamu Lucero, Janeene Freeman, a special sssistant to Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, Turn of River Principal Mark Bonasera and Stamford’s Director of Health and Human Services Jodi Bishop-Pullan also spoke on the importance of creating a medical home within school, ensuring accessible, quality health care services.

Located in nine SPS locations, SBHC’s are operated by Family Centers and staffed by nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, social workers, dental professionals and other personnel.

More than 1,800 children receive primary health, dental and mental health care each year. Services are provided regardless of a family’s income or health insurance status.

Family Centers is a private, nonprofit organization offering health, education and human service programs to children, adults and families in Fairfield County.

More than 300 professionals and 500 trained volunteers work together to provide more than 26,000 residents with a holistic, wraparound approach to care.

For more information, visit the Family Centers website.