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AdventHealth and Flagler schools partner on mental health, athletics

News-Journal - 7/24/2021

The Flagler County school district and AdventHealth agreed to a five-year, $750,000 partnership that will provide mental healthcare to students, add athletic trainers at high schools and establish more career pathways for graduates.

"This agreement is the result of establishing a great partnership with AdventHealth," said Flagler Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt in a press release about the partnership. "This will enable our students to have access to much-needed services targeting their physical and mental health."

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Called the AdventHealth Healthy Futures Program, the agreement mirrors a similar one the hospital system entered into with the Volusia County school district in 2018. The $2 million agreement with much-larger Volusia County was was billed as "the first of its kind." It focused on chronic absenteeism, rather than students' mental health, but has similar athletic and career pathways components.

Contrary to Volusia's "cost-neutral" deal, Flagler County Schools agreed to pay the hospital system $30,000 each year — for a total of $150,000 over five years — to offset the cost of the athletic trainers.

More: Read the contract

AdventHealth is also getting the ability to advertise on things like scoreboards, or on banners in gym and weight rooms, and read ads over the P.A. system during athletic events. It's designated as the "Official Healthcare Champion" of Flagler Schools.

AdventHealth will pay the district $10,000 a year for five years, for new ways to help identify students in need of early intervention, as well as mental health services for students and their families. Each of the district's two high schools will get an athletic trainer and enhanced services for athletic programs, which includes concussion protocols and testing and screenings for cardiac abnormalities. And the hospital system will offer coaching programs, job fairs and more to students who are interested in going into healthcare.

Six months later: Volusia school district partnership with Advent Health taking off in '19

New hospital: AdventHealth to construct $100M hospital in Flagler County, expected to open in 2022

The agreement comes as AdventHealth is expanding its footprint in Flagler County with the construction of its second hospital, AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway The $100 million project near Bridgehaven Drive is scheduled to open in early 2023 and provided 400 new jobs.

"This partnership with Flagler Schools is just one more way we hope to serve this community and let families here know we are here for them - to help take care of their personal health as well as contribute to the economic well-being of the whole community," said David Ottai, chief executive officer of AdventHealth hospitals in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties, in a press release.

The Flagler County School Board approved the agreement last week.

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