Loy Norrix is a constantly evolving building, gaining new classes, new features and new staff. Next year, Norrix will be a testing ground for a brand new Student Health Center, an in-house clinic and a general medical office. The program will be run by Penny Born Kalamazoo Count Health and Community Service’s Health Division Manager.

These Student-Based Health Center’s, or SBHC’s, have been around as a concept since the 1980s but are only now coming to Kalamazoo Public Schools. The center here is the first to be housed in a KPS school, but will be available to ALL students and youth in Kalamazoo County, ages five to 21. The goal of this program is as simple as it is noble, providing mental and physical help to Kalamazoo’s children. 

“I’ll be here for mental health,” said Catherine Wall-Emerson, who will be a clinical social worker for the SBHC next year. “Depression, anxiety, any thoughts or feeling that is preventing them [students] from being their best self.” 

The clinic should resemble a full doctors’ office in its final iteration, with the capacity to run physicals, complete wellness checks and even vaccinate youth. Furthermore, these services will be provided to students, regardless of their ability to pay. If students don’t have insurance, they will still be able to receive care through the student health service. 

However, if students do have insurance, the insurance will be billed. Functionally, it’s the same as a normal clinic, beholden to the same rules of patient confidentiality as your doctors’ office. 

This is not only a Norrix idea, nor is it even just a KPS idea. The funding has come from both the county, who is very excited for this program to take off, and KPS, working in concert to provide a clinic open to ALL Kalamazoo youth. 

The clinic will be set up in the teachers’ lounge, that is to the right of the tower. However, teachers need not worry, as a new teachers lounge will be set up in the copy and storage rooms by the library. The hope is that the lounge will begin construction in June, gaining a bathroom, two examination rooms and other features. This program charts a bright course for the future of Loy Norrix.