School clinic program earns Tri-Area Rural Health Award
The award recognizes effective and innovative approaches to improving health in rural communities.
Tri-Area Community Health’s School-Based Services program has been selected to receive the Virginia Rural Health Association’s 2026 Best Practices in Rural Health Award.
The award recognizes effective and innovative approaches to improving health in rural communities. Tri-Area will be honored during the association’s Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
In three years, Tri-Area has developed a regional school-based health program serving students and school employees at 31 schools in Carroll County, Galax City, Grayson County, Floyd County, and Patrick County. The program combines on-site medical and behavioral health services, prevention and early intervention, telehealth, and care coordination to make health care more accessible in rural communities.
During the 2025-2026 school year, the program completed 1,996 medical encounters, more than 270 sports physicals, and 2,143 behavioral health counseling encounters.
Behavioral Health Educators also provided classroom lessons, small groups, individual check-ins, prevention activities, and community outreach.
“This program would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of our school-based staff,” said Pam Hylton, Tri-Area Community Health’s School-Based Services Director. “From counselors, medical providers, and clinical support staff to virtual care coordinators, patient access staff, our IT specialist, and behavioral health educators, everyone plays an important part in making this work. They deserve to be recognized for their efforts to improve the lives of students, families, school employees, and other residents throughout our service area.”
602 East Main Street
Floyd Virginia
540-745-8686
Tri-Area also recognizes the employees throughout the organization who provide administrative, clinical, technical, and operational support to the program.
The program’s growth reflects strong partnerships with participating school divisions.
Financial support has included funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, with assistance from Dr. Bern’Nadette Knight, Child and Family Program Specialist; the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s Nurture Now program, with support from Andrea Lancaster, Chief Program and Impact Officer, and Tessa Ashoff, Senior Program Officer of Health Access Grants; and the Health Resources and Services Administration’s School-Based Service Expansion program.
In a release about the recent award, Tri-Area also thanked Ericca Facetti, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the School-Based Health Alliance of Virginia, for her consultation and continued support, as well as the Virginia Rural Health Association for selecting the program for the award.
Learn more about Tri-Area and its School-Based Clinics by calling 866-942-0401 or visit www.triareahealth.org.
