By Francis Page Jr
Click here for updates on this story
February 17, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — In a city as dynamic and diverse as Houston, success in the classroom often begins with something simple: access to quality health care. For the past decade, Legacy Community Health and YES Prep Public Schools have proven that when health and education move in lockstep, students don’t just survive — they thrive.
As the two organizations celebrate 10 years of partnership in 2026, their collaboration stands as a model of what school-based health care can accomplish when mission meets momentum and is one example of Legacy’s broader 39‑clinic School-Based Health Care (SBHC) network across the Greater Houston communities.
Meeting Students Where They Are: Legacy’s School-Based Health Care Model
Legacy operates the largest SBHC program in Texas and one of the largest in the United States, with 39 clinics across Greater Houston and Galena Park. Legacy SBHC serves students in partnership with YES Prep (21 locations), KIPP Texas–Houston (14 locations), and Galena Park ISD (4 locations). These on-campus clinics deliver medical and behavioral health services directly where students learn, same day, in person or virtually — eliminating the need for families to rearrange work schedules, secure transportation, or travel across the city for an appointment.
It’s a simple but transformative idea: bring care to campus to meet students, siblings, and children of staff where they are.
By embedding clinics within schools, Legacy’s goal is to help reduce student absences, strengthens academic continuity, and eases the burden on working parents – a benefit reflected in more than 72,000 student appointments completed during the 2024–2025 school year alone. It’s not just convenient — it’s strategic. Students thrive academically when their physical, mental, and emotional health are supported. Healthy students are better able to focus, fully engage in learning, and achieve their goals.
Who Legacy Is — And Why It Matters
As the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Texas, Legacy Community Health serves patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Sliding fee scales, Medicaid and CHIP enrollment assistance, and dedicated eligibility specialists who help families enroll in coverage or obtain reduced-cost care ensure that no child is turned away.
That commitment has made Legacy not only a trusted healthcare provider, but a stabilizing force across Houston’s neighborhoods. From preventive care to behavioral health, Legacy’s mission is rooted in equity — ensuring every family has access to quality, compassionate care.
Breaking Down Barriers to Care
For many Houston families, traditional clinic visits can mean:
Lost wages from missing work • Transportation challenges • Delays in pediatric and/or behavioral health appointments • Insurance gaps or financial stress School-based clinics remove those barriers. Students can receive care during the school day, minimizing lost class time while maximizing access to essential services.
The result? Less stress for families. Fewer disruptions to learning. And more equitable access to preventive, medical, and mental health services.
Legacy’s school-based clinics also serve siblings, parents, district students, and school staff — extending support to entire school communities.
Comprehensive Services — All Under One Roof
Across its school-based network, Legacy provides:
Well child exams and preventive visits • Vaccinations • Asthma and allergy care • Chronic condition management • Sports physicals • Individual and family counseling • Trauma-informed behavioral health services • Psychiatric evaluations
Leadership Perspective: Health and Education Are Interconnected
Robert Palussek, CEO of Legacy Community Health, emphasizes that student achievement and access to care are deeply intertwined. By delivering services on campus, he notes, the organization removes barriers and strengthens families and communities simultaneously – “health and education go hand in hand,” as he has said in recent statements.
Stephanie Ramirez, Vice President of School-Based Health Care, underscores the daily impact: on-campus clinics keep students healthy, help to reduce absences, and provide families with invaluable peace of mind. Families value knowing care is close by.
Together, their leadership reflects a broader philosophy — that education reform must include health equity.
A Regional Model for the Future
Ten years after launching its collaboration with YES Prep, Legacy’s School-Based Health Care program stands as a cornerstone of regional public health strategy and one of the largest SBHC programs in the nation.
With 39 clinics serving Greater Houston and Galena Park, the program represents sustained investment in children’s health, family stability, and community resilience. The YES Prep milestone is worth celebrating — but the larger story is Legacy’s ongoing commitment to ensuring students and families are equipped to succeed today and for generations to come.
In a city built on innovation and heart, this decade-long partnership proves one powerful truth: when we invest in student health – across every district/charter, underserved communities, and in school campuses – we invest in their future.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Francis Page, Jrfpagejr@stylemagazine.com7139275444
