A Decade of School‑Based Care Transforms Access for Houston Families

On‑campus clinics cut absences, reduce work disruptions, and make health care easier for thousands of families

 

HOUSTON, TX (February 3, 2026) — Imagine your child not missing a full day of school to see a doctor—and you do not have to miss work to take them. For families at YES Prep Charter Schools, this has been a reality for 10 years through a partnership with Legacy Community School-Based Health (SBH), which brings medical and behavioral health care directly onto campuses. This collaboration will be recognized during the School‑Based Health Care Awareness Month in February 2026.

“Health and education go hand in hand,” said Robert Palussek, CEO of Legacy Community Health. “For 10 years, our partnership with YES Prep has demonstrated the power of meeting students and families where they are. By bringing care directly onto school campuses, we remove barriers, support working parents, and strengthen our communities.”

For the past decade, our partnership with Legacy has made health care a seamless part of the school day, removing barriers for working families and ensuring our students have the support they need to succeed in and out of the classroom,” said Mark DiBella, CEO of YES Prep Public Schools. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to educating the whole child and strengthening the communities we serve.”

School‑Based Health Care in Action

Since the partnership began, Legacy and YES Prep have removed barriers to care by embedding clinics directly on campuses, giving students access to medical and behavioral health services without missing class and reducing the burden on working families. Clinics provide a range of services to support students’ physical and emotional well‑being, including:

• Well‑child exams and preventive care
• Immunizations
• Asthma and minor illness care
• Sports physicals
• Counseling and behavioral health support

In September 2025, the partners opened two new school‑based clinics at YES Prep Hobby Elementary and YES Prep Hobby Secondary, serving families in Southeast Houston. The clinics are available to students at host campuses, their siblings and parents, other district students, and the children of YES Prep employees. Legacy SBH provides care for patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, and connects families with financial resources to determine if they are eligible for insurance coverage and/or reduced cost.

“Our partnership with YES Prep allows us to make care convenient and accessible for families,” said Stephanie Ramirez, Vice President of School-Based Health Care at Legacy Community Health. “By embedding clinics in schools, we help students stay healthy, reduce missed class time, and give families peace of mind knowing care is close by.”

During the 2024–2025 school year, Legacy’s school‑based program completed more than 72,000 medical and behavioral health appointments and served nearly 14,000 students across Greater Houston. By delivering care directly on campuses, the program reduces missed class time, minimizes disruptions for working families, and addresses health needs before they become barriers to learning.

Across partnerships with various education systems, Legacy operates 39 school‑based health clinics, delivering consistent, on‑campus medical and behavioral health services to school communities across the region.

The anniversary celebration reflects both organizations’ shared mission to ensure students are healthy, supported, and ready to succeed—inside and outside the classroom.

Support for School-Based Health Care

Legacy’s School-Based Health Care program is made possible thanks in part to community support through events like the upcoming 16th Annual Frank Billingsley Golf Classic. Taking place on Monday, October 12, 2026, the tournament raises critical funds for Legacy’s School-Based Health Care program. Proceeds help Legacy continue its mission of connecting students to the care they need to stay healthy, succeed in school, and thrive.

 

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About Legacy Community Health

Legacy Community Health is a full-service health care system comprised of 63 locations in the Texas Gulf Coast region offering primary and specialty care, as well as pharmacy services. For over 40 years, Legacy has been innovating the ways we provide comprehensive, quality health care services to individuals, families, and communities in need. As the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Texas and a United Way-affiliated agency since 1990, Legacy ensures its services and programs are open to all, regardless of the ability to pay—without judgment or exception. To learn more, visit legacycommunityhealth.org.

 

About YES Prep Public Schools

YES Prep Public Schools is a tuition-free charter school system serving more than 20,000 students across 26 Houston campuses. For over 25 years, YES Prep has redefined what’s possible in public education and earned national recognition for its strong academic outcomes and college readiness. From elementary through high school, YES Prep is closing opportunity gaps and preparing every student to thrive in college, career, and life. Learn more at yesprep.org.