Students, faculty, representatives of the state, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Hopewell Health Centers cut the ribbon to celebrate the completion of Warrior Care Clinic at Warren Local School District, Friday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

WARREN — Gov. Mike DeWine spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony in honor of the completion of the school-based clinic at Warren Local School District on Friday.

Over $1.3 million in federal funding through the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative was awarded to Warren to construct a clinic in partnership with Hopewell Health Centers.

The school-based health clinic at Warren, the Warrior Care Clinic, features examination rooms, labs, offices, and up-to-date medical equipment.

DeWine said the clinic isn’t only for staff and students at Warren, but will serve the community and all ages.

“Let’s let the people in the communities come together and think big about a project…and so you came forward with this idea,” said DeWine. “We really liked the idea of health clinics and medical care in schools and the reason this is so important is because the school is really the center of the community.”

From left, Fran DeWine, Kimberly Murnieks, and Melcie Wells listen to Gov. Mike DeWine as he gives the opening remarks at Warren Local School District for the school-based clinic ribbon cutting Friday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The grant was proposed by Nationwide Children’s Hospital on behalf of the Appalachian Children Coalition. DeWine said that the schools need a partnership with a health care provider which is how Hopewell Health Centers got involved.

“The Warrior Care Clinic is not a starting plan, but an expansion of that ongoing commitment,” said Hopewell Health Centers Chief Operation Officer Lisa Poling. “It is because of the strong foundation of care that is already here that we’ve been able to grow today.”

In 2024, DeWine announced the project which consisted of funding of more than $64 million divided between 20 Appalachian counties.

“We’re trying to do this all over the state, particularly in the more rural areas where health care might be lacking or the access to healthcare might be lacking,” said DeWine.

Warren Local School’s Superintendent Kyle Newton wanted to thank everyone that worked together to make the clinic possible.

Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife Fran DeWine cut the ribbon alongside Warren Local School District Superintendent Kyle Newton on Friday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“I can’t stress the excitement that I have for our parents and our students as well as the gratitude and support that I have in our partnership,” said Newton. “This project is just seriously one of many actions that shows commitment.”

A few other speakers at the ceremony included; Warren Local School’s Treasurer Melcie Wells, Director of the Office of Budget and Management Kimberly Murnieks and Nationwide Children’s Hospital Senior Director of School Health Services Mary Kay Irwin.

After the ceremony, attendees were welcome to take a tour through the clinic which was renovated over the course of a year. Newton said that the construction crew did an amazing job of making this project happen.

The Warrior Care Clinic is expected to open for the public at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

The Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative is part of a larger program; the Appalachian Community Grant Program which is investing about $500 million into rural areas.

Gov. Mike DeWine speaks at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of the Warrior Care Clinic at Warren Local School District on Friday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

One of three examination rooms at the Warrior Care Clinic at Warren Local School District in building six. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Building six was renovated into the Warrior Care Clinic which will be the hub for health services for Warren Local School District’s students and community. (Photo by Amber Phipps)