Family Medicine, Pediatrics, School-Based Health Care, Uncategorized

Celebrating a Decade of Partnership: Legacy SBHC and YES Prep

Posted on by Ashley Guidry
09
Feb

February is School‑Based Health Care Month

Ten years. That is how long Legacy Community Health and YES Prep Public Schools have worked side by side to bring health care directly to students across the Greater Houston area. What began in the fall of 2015 has grown into a partnership that has changed how whole communities access care. This February, during School‑Based Health Care Month, we proudly celebrate this milestone and the thousands of lives it has touched.

How It All Started

The partnership began when YES Prep identified a challenge familiar to many Houston families: when a child needed medical or behavioral health care, parents often lacked health insurance or had no way to miss work for an appointment. Too often, children went without care.

Legacy stepped in with a simple but powerful idea—bring health care to where students already are.

It began with mental health support from Legacy social workers. Soon after, the YES Prep Gulfton and Southside campuses became the first to open fully equipped school-based clinics staffed by Legacy pediatric clinicians. The results were immediate: more students staying in class, more families getting the support they needed, and a growing trust between schools and clinic teams.

Where We Are Today

What was once a handful of campuses has expanded to 21 clinics across YES Prep elementary and secondary schools. The scope of services has grown significantly as well.

Today, Legacy’s School-Based Health Care program operates 39 clinic locations across YES Prep, KIPP Texas–Houston, and Galena Park ISD, offering convenient, high-quality care to students up to age 21, siblings up to age 18, and children of school staff.

During the 2024–2025 school year alone, Legacy completed more than 72,000 medical and behavioral health appointments for nearly 14,000 students—evidence of both need and impact.

Services That Meet Students Where They Are

Legacy’s school-based clinics offer comprehensive pediatric and behavioral health services. During school hours, students can receive:

  • Well‑child checkups & preventive care
  • Vaccinations
  • Asthma and allergy treatment
  • Sports physicals & minor illness care
  • Chronic condition management
  • Individual and family counseling, including support for anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief
  • Psychiatric evaluations & medication management
  • Dental services at select locations for children ages 6 months to 18 years

Clinics accept Medicaid, CHIP, and most private insurance. For uninsured families, Legacy offers a sliding fee scale and support in identifying financial assistance or insurance options. No child is ever turned away due to inability to pay—a cornerstone of Legacy’s mission.

Why School-Based Health Care Matters

The impact of school‑based health care reaches far beyond treating earaches or providing vaccinations. By embedding care directly within schools, students stay in class, parents miss fewer hours at work, and health concerns are addressed early—before they become barriers to learning.

As Stephanie Ramirez, Vice President of School‑Based Health Clinics, explains: “Together we have been able to identify increased opportunities for communicating with parents via parent electronic platform, monthly blog, social media, and engagement in school functions in an effort to reach more families and inform them of our services.”

This partnership brings high‑quality care into historically underserved communities, helping students build lifelong health literacy. Legacy’s Senior Check‑Out ensures graduating seniors are connected to ongoing health resources—whether they are heading to college, entering the workforce, or pursuing other paths.

For families, the convenience and reliability of having a clinic on campus make a meaningful difference. Bilingual staff help parents stay informed and involved in their child’s care, and the familiar school environment creates an added layer of comfort and trust.

Reflecting on her four years with the program, Ramirez shares: “The greatest moments are spending time with families at registration events, seeing relationships built between students and pediatric and behavioral health clinicians, and student interaction with our front‑line clinical staff that demonstrates the trust that has been created.”

Looking Ahead

The decade-long partnership continues to expand in both reach and innovation. Recently, new clinics opened at YES Prep Hobby Elementary and YES Prep Hobby Secondary, increasing access for Southeast Houston families.

Telemedicine capabilities have also improved with new tools like high-resolution exam cameras and otoscopes, enabling more comprehensive remote visits for students, siblings, and children of school staff—often same day or next day.

“The ultimate goal is that all families across YES Prep schools are aware of and take advantage of our services,” Ramirez says. “We are staffed with a team that genuinely cares and provides high‑quality, individualized care to every child.”

Supporting School-Based Health Care: The Frank Billingsley Golf Classic

Legacy’s School-Based Health Care program is strengthened by community support. One of the most impactful events is the 16th Annual Frank Billingsley Golf Classic, taking place on Monday, October 12, 2026.

Funds raised directly support Legacy’s school-based clinics—helping ensure that students across Houston continue to receive the essential medical and behavioral health care they need to stay healthy, succeed in school, and thrive long‑term.

How to Access Care

If your child attends a YES Prep, KIPP Texas–Houston, or Galena Park ISD school, they may have access to a Legacy clinic on or near their campus.

To enroll or make an appointment:

A healthy student is a successful student. For ten years, that belief has guided Legacy Community Health’s work in schools across Houston—and it will continue to guide us in the decade ahead.

Learn More: