Building positive habits, such as staying active, getting enough sleep, and eating well, can help children feel happier and healthier, but even those who maintain a healthy balance need help from medical experts from time to time. The Children’s Trust is now helping even more children who face access barriers to health care services to get the care they need while they’re in school.
The Trust understands the importance of access to health care, which is why it is expanding its HealthConnect initiative this school year. The aim is to ensure that every student, regardless of background or public school location, in Miami-Dade County has access to the high-quality physical and mental health services they need to thrive, at no cost to caregivers.
How HealthConnect Helps Children
As the name suggests, HealthConnect links children in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and some charter schools to health care through a tiered care model. Schools receive different levels of staffing and health services, such as nursing, mental health, and social work, depending on their size and location. HealthConnect incorporates actual services and referrals for medical, vision, and oral health, as well as social and emotional (behavioral) health.
Michael Cure, the dedicated behavioral health counselor at Carrie P. Meek Westview K-8 Center in North Miami, which is part of the HealthConnect initiative, helps kids get a handle on big emotions. One of Mr. Cure's many success stories involved students Ariana and Bionnie, who were getting poor grades due to issues surrounding bullying. Thanks to his guidance, both Ariana and Bionnie made a remarkable turnaround through group activities and one-on-one sessions. Mr. Cure, along with other experts in social and emotional health, help children who need him thanks to HealthConnect.
While it isn't possible to staff every school with on-site medical professionals, select schools have regularly scheduled visits for continuity of comprehensive care instead, and all schools in the HealthConnect system can access medical and mental health care through virtual contact with health professionals. According to a 2025 study, telehealth "can be a viable alternative to traditional in-person early interventions."
How HealthConnect helps health care professionals
The Children's Trust is constantly improving the level of care provided by HealthConnect. School nurses, social workers, and mental health professionals come together at regular conferences to discuss pressing topics like supporting students with ADHD, sleep health, crisis management, mindfulness, managing suicidal thoughts and behaviors, poisoning prevention, and helping students experiencing trauma, disasters, and bullying. Additionally, school nurses in the HealthConnect system regularly learn vital new skills, such as administering oral health screenings in partnership with Oral Health Florida.
Where Does HealthConnect Go from Here
The Children’s Trust recently increased its investment in HealthConnect, with annual funding increasing 34% to just under $25 million. This additional funding helps provide comprehensive school-based health services through six health care service agencies, reaching 283 schools, and doubling the number of schools we were able to reach with the previous level of funding.
"The Children's Trust is committed to nurturing the well-being of every child in Miami-Dade County," said James R. Haj, President & CEO of The Children's Trust. "This significant expansion of our investment and collaboration in HealthConnect reflects our commitment to ensuring all students have access to the health services and education they need to thrive. By investing in their health today, we are investing in a brighter future for our entire community."
For more information on HealthConnect, visit TheChildrensTrust.org HealthConnect.