Harrison Central Clinic Wins $618,606 Health Grant
The school-based clinic will expand staffing and services through a two-year federal Rural Health Transformation award.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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The Harrison Central School-Based Health and Wellness Clinic was awarded $618,606 through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The grant funds expansion of the clinic, which is run in partnership with WVU Medicine Harrison Community Hospital.
Why it matters
The clinic has grown in response to rising demand for convenient, accessible health care for students and school staff in Ohio's rural communities. The award is one of 49 Ohio grants under the same program, signaling statewide investment in school-based care.
The $618,606 award covers staffing, equipment and supplies over two years, and visit volume more than doubled from 2025 to September 2026. The filing does not break down how the funds will be allocated across those categories.
The players
WVU Medicine Harrison Community Hospital
A hospital in Cadiz, Ohio, and the health system partner that operates the school-based clinic alongside the Harrison Central School District.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Rural Health Transformation funding behind this award.
The details
The grant supports one full-time advanced practice registered nurse, one full-time medical assistant and two part-time school nurses. It also funds examination tables, a telemedicine cart, vision and diagnostic equipment, point-of-care laboratory analyzers and vaccine storage supplies.
Timeline
2025: The clinic recorded more than 340 visits.
This year (2026): The clinic expanded from two to five days per week.
September 2026: The clinic surpassed 800 visits.
Next two years: The grant funds the clinic's expansion.
Market Landscape
The Rural Health Transformation School-Based Health Center grant is distributing awards to 49 Ohio locations, placing Harrison Central among a statewide cohort. The program channels federal dollars into school-based clinics as an alternative to distant primary care for rural families.
Students and staff at Harrison Central now have access to a clinic open five days a week, offering sick visits, wellness checks and chronic care management. Families in the district can receive primary care at school rather than traveling to a distant provider.
The takeaway
School-based clinics can close access gaps for rural families by bringing primary care to where children already spend their days. Parents of students in participating districts can ask their schools whether a clinic is available.
Further reading
For more on the workforce behind clinics like this, browse Nursing Jobs across Ohio.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heraldstaronline.
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