HOUSTON – For many children in Houston’s most medically underserved neighborhoods, simply getting to a doctor can be long, costly—or impossible.
But a growing effort is changing that by delivering high-quality health care directly to students where they already are—on their school campuses.
Bringing Care to the Classroom
Legacy Community Health, in partnership with YES Prep Public Schools, has just opened two new school-based clinics at Hobby Elementary and Secondary in southeast Houston—an area where access to health care has long been limited.
“We go into communities where children would not otherwise have access to high-quality health care,” said Stephanie Ramirez with Legacy Community Health. “It doesn’t require parents to leave work.”
Ramirez, who grew up in the Hobby Airport area, says the new clinics serve a community close to her heart.
“There’s not a lot of access to clinics here. So this is a real passion of mine,” she said.
Expanding Access Across Houston
The new clinics are part of a wider network: Legacy now operates 39 school-based clinics across the Greater Houston area, including 21 in partnership with YES Prep.
“It’s a holistic approach,” said Isy Castillo with YES Prep.
Services include physicals, vaccinations, diagnostic testing, and much-needed mental health support—available both in-person and virtually.
“After COVID, we’ve seen a very high spike in mental health needs for our students,” Castillo noted.
Legacy has more than 40 therapists across Houston and Galena Park School District, ensuring students can access mental health support without long waits.
Healthier Kids, Stronger Classrooms
The goal is simple: keep kids healthy—and in school.
Educators say just two missed school days a month can significantly impact reading ability and academic progress.
“We’re really looking forward to decreasing that gap by having care within our campus,” Castillo said.
Closing the Insurance Gap
In Harris County, nearly 1 in 8 children lack health insurance, according to Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families.
Legacy’s clinics help close that gap by accepting CHIP, Medicaid, Medicare, and offering sliding scale fees. No one is turned away, and clinic teams assist families with navigating coverage options.
And for many families, accessing care at school is just the beginning.
“This opens the door of awareness,” Castillo said. “Besides the services their kids are getting in school, they could potentially access more services for the adult population at one of the Legacy clinics around the city.”
Looking Ahead
Legacy and YES Prep hope to expand this model to all 26 YES Prep campuses, making health care a routine, accessible part of every child’s school day.