"It is providing access to health care for millions of Americans who previously didn't have it," U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th District) said Monday before the ribbon cutting of the new Family Centers School Based Health clinic at Cloonan Middle School. The clinic was funded in part through the Affordable Care Act.
The act faced strenuous opposition before it became law in 2009 and continues to see vigorous Republican attacks. However, the law provided money that could be used to build clinics in schools and the local nonprofit Family Centers.
The new clinic joins Family Centers' roster of school-based clinics at Westhill High School and Stamford High School and joint clinics that provide services for Rippowam Middle School and the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering High School as well as a clinic that covers Dolan Middle School and Toquam Elementary.
No opposing voices were heard Monday as Himes was joined by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Mayor David Martin, Family Centers officials, educators and Cloonan students at the ceremony.
Blumenthal, a Greenwich Democrat who noted that he used to live in Stamford, called the clinic a "real tangible, real concrete" example of what can be done when people at all levels of government work together.
The clinics will offer a wide variety of care, including access to mental health care, he said.
"It has never been more difficult to be a student and young person today," Blumenthal said of the challenges young people might be facing.
Himes, a Cos Cob resident, praised Stamford and what it offers.
"It is a city that I point to when I talk to my colleagues as a city that really gets it right," he said.
In his brief remarks, Martin said it was important to ensure that everyone is healthy and he made a pitch for everyone to get a flu shot.
Family Centers President Bob Arnold was excited about the clinic and what it will offer for students.
"This is a wonderful thing because children's health is our No. 1 priority," he said.
Family Centers is a private nonprofit based in Greenwich that offers services to children and adults.
Federal money was used to renovate the space while state and city money will be use to operate the clinic.
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