February 12, 2024
VENICE FAMILY CLINIC BEGINS PROVIDING HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO HAWTHORNE SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS
New Partnership is First for the Clinic Under Program Established to Transform Schools into Hubs of Services for the Community as a Whole
HAWTHORNE, CA – (February 12, 2024) – Venice Family Clinic and the Hawthorne School District today announced a new partnership to provide medical care, mental health care and other health and wellness services for the district’s more than 7,000 students at York School’s Maxine Waters Health and Dignity Center as part of a program designed to transform schools into hubs of services for communities as a whole.
Venice Family Clinic, a nonprofit community health center providing health care to 45,000 people in need from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay, has clinicians and staff at the health center two days a week to provide vaccinations, physicals and other medical care; mental health care; health insurance enrollment assistance; and health education for children and teens in the Hawthorne School District.
The Clinic already provides on-campus medical and mental health care at Culver City Middle and High Schools, Santa Monica High School and Carson High School. But the Hawthorne School District’s health center is the Clinic’s first on-campus medical program under the California Community Schools Partnership Program. Launched in 2021, the program is an historic investment to transform schools in disadvantaged communities into hubs of integrated services and programs that address the needs of students, families and the community.
“Providing care where our patients are is a hallmark of Venice Family Clinic’s comprehensive approach to health care, and we are enthusiastic about this opportunity to extend our school-based health care programs to Hawthorne,” said Dr. Mitesh Popat, Venice Family Clinic CEO. “Our partnership with the Hawthorne School District gives us an opportunity to be a vital link in ensuring the health, well-being and academic success of Hawthorne’s young people.”
The California Community Schools Partnership Program provided a $14.25 million grant to Hawthorne School District to partner with community organizations, like Venice Family Clinic, and establish programs to address mental and physical health, well-being, basic needs, family engagement, college and career readiness and behavior and enrichment interventions and support.
“Venice Family Clinic’s demonstrated commitment to local communities and high quality care makes it the perfect partner to help us achieve our goal of becoming a vibrant hub of services and programs dedicated to ensuring our students, families and community flourish,” said Hawthorne School District Superintendent Brian Markarian.
The District and Venice Family Clinic will host a community celebration of their partnership from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 at the Maxine Waters Health and Dignity Center at York School, 11838 York Ave., Hawthorne, CA 90250. Hawthorne School District students and their families are invited to attend. The event will feature children’s activities, healthy snacks, tours of the health center and a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring leaders from the school district, the local community and Venice Family Clinic. For more information, please visit hawthornesd.org/healthcenter.
About Venice Family Clinic
Venice Family Clinic is a nonprofit community health center that is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality health care to more than 45,000 people in need annually, regardless of their income, insurance or immigration status. The Clinic merged with South Bay Family Health Care in late 2021 and serves an area from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay in Los Angeles County through a network of sites located in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Inglewood, Culver City, Redondo Beach, Carson, Gardena and Hawthorne, plus three mobile clinics and an expansive street medicine program for people experiencing homelessness. The Clinic’s comprehensive care also includes mental health services, dental care, vision services, substance use treatment, prescription medications, domestic violence counseling, HIV services, healthy food distributions, health education, health insurance enrollment, child development services and more. For more information, please visit VeniceFamilyClinic.org and follow on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
About Hawthorne School District
Hawthorne School District is dedicated to educational excellence and the continuous academic growth of all students. Located in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, minutes from the Los Angeles International Airport, the Hawthorne School District educates over 7,000 pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students in the diverse urban community of Hawthorne. Founded in 1907, the District is proud of its long tradition of academic excellence. There are currently seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and a charter high school in the District. The District’s high school, Hawthorne Mathematics and Science Academy, opened in the 2003-04 school year and offers a rigorous, college-preparatory program. Students from Hawthorne School District not attending the charter high school attend high schools in the Centinela Valley Union High School District.