The event featured remarks from Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence, Dr. Tonya Adkins, CEO of HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, School Board Chair April Chandler and Sterling District School Board Member Amy Riccardi. Attendees also toured the mobile clinics, met the healthcare professionals who will deliver services and learned how LCPS and HealthWorks are partnering to reduce barriers to care and expand access to essential health services for students and families.

The two mobile units, nicknamed "Meddy" and "Flossy," are designed to reduce barriers that can prevent students, families and staff from accessing healthcare. Services offered through the units include primary and preventive medical care, support for chronic conditions, dental cleanings and screenings, behavioral health counseling and care coordination.

Dr. Spence noted that supporting the whole child requires schools, healthcare providers and community partners to work together.

"Education and healthcare are sometimes treated as separate systems, but the needs of children don't fit neatly into those categories. A child's health affects their ability to learn. Their sense of well-being affects their ability to connect, participate and see what is possible for their future. This partnership will help us move from recognizing barriers to doing something about them. It reflects a shared belief that every student deserves the opportunity to be healthy, supported and ready to learn, regardless of their family's circumstances," said Dr. Spence.

Dr. Adkins emphasized the challenges many families face in obtaining healthcare for their children, including transportation limitations, difficulty in securing appointments and the challenges families may face in taking time off from work. The mobile health units will help address these barriers by bringing medical, dental and behavioral health services directly to schools.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive,” said Dr. Adkins. “This program reflects our deep commitment to supporting the health and well-being of our community. By helping ensure that students have access to the care they need, we are creating opportunities for them to succeed both in and out of the classroom.”

The initiative builds on HealthWorks' long-standing commitment to community-based care. A nonprofit health center serving more than 17,000 patients annually across five Northern Virginia locations, HealthWorks shares LCPS' commitment to removing barriers that can affect health, well-being and student success.

The partnership will initially serve Community Schools in Sterling and provide care regardless of insurance status or a family's ability to pay. Funded through a renewable grant from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the program reflects a shared commitment to creating healthy, thriving school communities.