Hazard, KY – Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) has joined forces with the Leslie, Knott, Letcher, Perry Community Action Agency (LKLP) Head Start program to enhance the health and wellness of children and families across the region. This new collaboration will bring a range of healthcare education and outreach services directly to Head Start students and their families.

Through this partnership, ARH will host health and wellness education sessions covering key topics, including family nutrition, prenatal care, smoking and vaping cessation, healthy cooking, and car seat safety. Additionally, the ARH Mobile Clinic will visit Head Start sites and other community locations to offer basic health screenings and provide referrals to additional care when necessary.

Photo courtesy of the LKLP Headstart.

“At ARH, we believe that strong communities start with healthy families,” said Nicole Smith, Community Development Manager for ARH’s Kentucky River Region. “This partnership with LKLP Head Start allows us to meet families where they are, bringing education, screenings, and care directly to them. Together, we’re helping to build a foundation for lifelong health starting in early childhood.”

Families will also benefit from referrals to specialized care within the ARH network, including primary care, behavioral health, and maternal services. To ensure the initiative meets community needs, ARH and LKLP will conduct a parent health education survey to identify areas of interest and guide future educational offerings.

“Our families face many barriers when it comes to accessing healthcare,” said Justin Collett, the Head Start and Early Head Start Director of LKLP Community Action Agency. “Partnering with ARH means parents will have more resources, more education, and more support right within our Head Start centers. It’s an important step in strengthening the overall wellbeing of the children and families we serve.”

###