Heals Inc

There are an estimated 12,000 students in Title I schools in Madison County. (Over 9,000 of these are enrolled in Huntsville City Schools) With health care access given to students and immediate family members (Parents and siblings), as well as all Headstart students, that number could easily reach 50,000. Title I schools are designated as below poverty level income averages in the school zone. Many of these families have no insurance, using the emergency room as their primary caregiver. Many of them have no money to pay for medication.

From the beginning, HEALS has offered much more than immediate relief of physical symptoms. The clinic offers a safe environment and a safety net for children and families where social, medical, emotional and family problems are treated in an atmosphere of respect and caring. Students who often go home to an empty house come to the clinic after school to share with a caring adult their successes and struggles of the day. Homework assistance, hugs, and caring abound.
The presence of medical and social services staff allow the clinic to focus on both healing the body and educating the client and their families so that future problems are reduced or avoided. In addition, this team approach enhances access to other resources available to treat acute illnesses or injuries or to provide more in-depth or long-term support. Services provided include:
-Primary Medical and Dental Services
-Social Work Services, including individual and family counseling, work placement, anger management, peer groups, etc.
-Immunizations
-Educational Classes
-Medications
-Counseling
-Lab Work
-Health Screenings
-X-ray
-Loving, Validating Environment

Services have also included free physicals for Girls Incorporated's Girl Scout Troop, Salvation Army's Boy Scout Troop, the Alabama A&M Summer Youth Program, Headstart physicals for all Madison County applicants without insurance, and sports physicals for area high Schools.