The grand opening of the Foley School-Based Clinic, operated by Franklin Primary Health Center Inc., took place Thursday, Aug. 11, at the site, adjacent to the campus containing the Foley Elementary, Middle, Intermediate and High schools. The event was attended by State Representatives James Buskey and Steve McMillan, Commissioner Charles Gruber, Mayor John Koniar, Superintendent Eddie Tyler, and school principals Dr. William Lawrence, Danny McDuffie, Branton Bailey and Russ Moore.

Franklin recently received a $650,000 grant to open the facility, its 21st and the first school-based clinic to be established in Baldwin County. Franklin has been in Baldwin County for almost 20 years and operates facilities in Bay Minette, Loxley and Foley.

The clinic is currently staffed with Nurse Practitioner Kelli Gilman, Operations Manager Cherry Hutcherson, Medical Assistant Erica Kendrick and Assistant Office Manager Erica Alvarez. When fully-staffed, it will have a fulltime family practitioner, a full-time nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, two medical assistants, a social worker/case manager, two front office staff and an office manager.

The Baldwin County School System is concerned about the lack of immunization of children, especially those at the Foley Elementary School. This is the largest school in the county and the school with the highest number of students delinquent in immunizations.

Charles White, CEO of Franklin Primary Health Center, stated in his remarks to those in attendance at the grand opening, “With this school-based clinic and our mobile unit, we aim to provide access to affordable, quality, comprehensive primary and preventive medical, dental and optometric services to the children in Foley and all of Baldwin County. We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with the Baldwin County School System to provide these much-needed health services.”