CHI Expands School-Based Health Services to Reach More Students in 2025

As the 2025 school year kicks off, Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) is stepping up in a big way to meet the growing healthcare needs of students across Miami- Dade County. Thanks to expanded funding from The Children’s Trust, CHI has significantly increased its reach, growing from 35 school- based health centers in 2024 to 58 centers this year. These school sites now stretch from Coral Gables to Florida City, serving as access points for more than 50,000 students.

This mobile unit delivers on-site care such as routine checkups, immunizations, and urgent medical concerns. It’s all part of the organization’s mission to remove barriers to care and improve health outcomes for children throughout South Florida.

According to Peter Wood, CHI’s Executive Vice President, the success and expansion of this program are rooted in deep community partnerships.

“We’ve been serving students for many years,” said Wood. “CHI places a high priority in working closely with parents to
meet the healthcare needs of their children. The Children’s Trust has played a crucial role in shaping the services we provide and in helping us scale our programs to reach more students than ever.”

This year also brings an exciting new development to the school-based health initiative: the introduction of telehealth services across public schools. With convenient virtual visits, students can be seen by a licensed provider without leaving school grounds, offering convenience. Appointment hours are the after-school period, giving families more flexibility and helping more students get care.

For many families, school-based health centers are a lifeline. They bring essential medical, behavioral, and preventive care directly to where children spend most of their time—school. With the latest expansion, CHI is making sure that even more children and their families can get the support they need, right at school.

In addition, CHI’s mobile medical van will be at eight charter schools across the county.

“If a parent cannot get in to see a doctor but they want their child to be seen for a bad cough, for example, they can request a telehealth appointment through an online form and get an appointment quickly,” Wood explained. “We’re making it easier than ever for children to get timely care.”

CHI also sees the increasing need for mental health services among school-aged children. At most locations, a licensed clinical social worker is available full-time to provide counseling and behavioral support. These services are also available through telehealth, so that help is available even when an in- person visit isn’t possible.

As CHI continues to grow its school-based programs, its mission remains focused: improving the health and well-being of children and ensuring that all have access to care.