Lexington, KY – In celebration of National Healthy Schools Week, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) is highlighting its ongoing efforts to improve the health and well-being of children across Central Appalachia. Through hands-on school partnerships, ARH brings education, preventive care, and essential health services directly to students, helping them build lifelong healthy habits.

“National Healthy Schools Week is a perfect reminder that student wellness goes beyond the classroom,” said Danielle Harmon, ARH’s Director of Community Development. “Hospital–school partnerships allow us to provide education and services in schools, helping children stay healthy and setting the foundation for healthier adulthood.”

Through its Community Development team, led by Harmon and regional managers Heather Samons (Big Sandy region), Nicole Smith (Kentucky River Region), Kelly Elkins (West Virginia Region), and Whitley Gatlif (Cumberland Valley Region), ARH delivers educational programs, preventative care, and essential health services directly to classrooms.

In 2025, ARH conducted 62 in‑school programs focused on vaping prevention, oral health, physical activity, healthy relationships, and reducing the consumption of sugary and energy drinks. ARH also provides telehealth services in many Floyd County schools and all Johnson County Schools, ensuring students have access to care from an ARH Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

“Having a partnership with ARH has had a direct impact on the overall health of both our students and faculty at KCCHS,” said Karen Bentley, Knott County Central Youth Service Center. “Without the implementation of their programs, our school and community would not be as successful and healthy as they are today.”

Each year, ARH providers conduct hundreds of free sports physicals, helping students to participate safely in school athletics. To address food insecurity, ARH partnered with Sodexo in 2025 to distribute 100 $50 Food City vouchers to Harlan and Floyd County families in need identified by Family Resource and Youth Service Centers in Harlan and Floyd counties.

“ARH is very valuable in our students’ health,” said Stacy Brown, May Valley Family Resource and Youth Service Center Coordinator. “If it weren’t for the involvement of ARH and our strong community partnership, our students and families would do without the resources that they need. They are a great asset.”

ARH also supports educators through preventative screening events for teachers and school staff, benefiting entire school communities.

In West Virginia, ARH supports and manages Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), a youth‑led program that empowers students to lead monthly service projects focused on substance misuse prevention, public health compliance, and community care initiatives.

In late 2025, ARH established a partnership with LKLP Head Start in the Kentucky River Region, to provide ongoing health screenings, educational sessions, and trainings to students, families, and staff members. Since inception, ARH has hosted cooking classes, family engagement events, and screening programs in multiple counties.

Through its school‑based initiatives, ARH continues to strengthen communities by investing in prevention, education, and partnerships that support lifelong health.

“Our role as a healthcare system goes far beyond treating illness,” Harmon said. “We are committed to being present in our communities, listening to their needs, and working side by side with our schools and partners to help create healthier futures for our children and families.”

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