DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The Detroit Public Schools Community District is partnering with several foundations to launch a dozen health hubs throughout Detroit to attempt to decrease the number of students missing school in a year. 

“As a district, I am proud to announce the establishment of health hubs, throughout obviously the city of Detroit, and within our DPSCD schools,” DPSCD Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti said at a conference announcing the program on Monday. 

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The 12 health hubs, five of which are anticipated to open this coming fall, will be largely funded by the Children’s Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for deployment in numerous neighborhood schools. 

“Each Health Hub will include services addressing physical, mental, and oral health needs, after-school programs, basic needs resources, parent and caregiver engagement and services, and other resources ranging from legal aid to housing counseling,” the Children’s Foundation said in a statement. 

DPSCD has received more than $4.5 million in grants to launch the health hubs, with less than half coming from the three aforementioned foundations.  Ahead of the announcement, the Ballmer Group, a group “committed to improving economic mobility and opportunity for children and families in the United States,” had pledged roughly $2.75 million to the project. 

“Ballmer Group’s investment in DPSCD’s Health Hubs reflects our commitment to support the well-being of Detroit students and their families,” Kylee Mitchell Wells, Executive Director of Ballmer Group – Southeast Michigan said in a statement. “We believe that it is critical to ensure that our schools are a hub for resources and can expand access to services that our children and families need to advance their health, education and economic mobility.”

Central High School, Durfee Elementary-Middle School, East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney, Osborn High School, and Western International High School are among some of the first schools that will contain these hubs. 

“We are constantly problem solving,” Vitti said. “But despite improvement in average daily attendance, we still struggle with chronic absenteeism, so that means missing more than 18 days in a school year.” 

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Just in the 2021-2022 school year, the DPSCD experienced a 77% rate of chronic absenteeism, more than a 10% rise from pre-pandemic rates.  Though the district has dropped the rate to 68% during this past year, the district’s goal still hasn’t been met according to Vitti. 

“We believe that if we place health hubs in our schools where children are at and families frequent, we can better provide access to them with the services that can overcome the challenge of chronic absenteeism,” Vitti said. 

These hubs will also partner with local health care providers including: Ascension, Henry Ford Health, and others to properly staff the hubs with professionals able to facilitate behavioral and physical health services at each location. 

The DPSCD has the largest student population in the state, with more than 48,000 students being served throughout the district.