District 21 officials outline two‑year results from school‑based health center
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Summary
School District 21 officials told the Arlington Heights Village Board their school‑based health center — opened May 2024 and run by a partnership with Advocate Children’s Hospital — delivered nearly 4,000 visits in two years and costs about $425,000–$475,000 annually, supported by a $1,000,000 foundation grant and congressional community project funds.
Cassandra Young, director of communications and community engagement for Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21, told the Village Board on April 6 that the district’s school‑based health center has provided almost 4,000 visits since opening in May 2024.
"We had just under 4,000 total visits in two years — that's 3,200 student visits and just under 1,000 mental‑health visits," Young said, describing services from immunizations and sports physicals to on‑site mental‑health therapy. She said the district partners with Advocate Children’s Hospital to staff and operate the center.
Dr. Michael Connelly, superintendent of District 21, said the center supports students’ social, emotional and academic needs and eases access barriers for families. "It really was a cornerstone," he said, adding the facility includes four exam rooms, two treatment/therapy rooms, a lab and a consultation space.
Young described the program’s early funding: an anonymous family foundation provided a $1,000,000 grant to build and equip the center, and the district received additional grants through the Illinois Department of Public Health and community project funding secured by Rep. Brad Schneider. She estimated the annual operating cost under the contract with Advocate at between $425,000 and $475,000.
Board members asked operational questions, including whether the center bills insurance. Young said routine in‑center visits do not currently file insurance, and families needing specialty care would be routed into insurance billing through Advocate or other providers.
The presentation closed with an invitation for the board and public to support the center’s upcoming fundraising golf outing on June 17 and to consider the program when pursuing future grant and foundation support. The district asked the board to consider offering letters of support if needed for grant applications.
The board offered general thanks and had no action on the presentation; the item served as an informational update to the village officials and public.
