Health clinic under construction at Omaha high school

Construction workers are building the Omaha (Nebraska) school district's first physical and mental health clinic.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the two-story addition at Benson High School is intended to fill a dire need for medical care in the North Omaha community.

The Charles Drew Health Center, Methodist Health, Project Harmony and the University of Nebraska Medical Center are splitting the 10,000-square-foot space. It will serve both the school and the Benson neighborhood.

Students will be able to receive low-cost or free services depending on the provider. The district started the $8 million construction project in early 2023.

 

Benson High’s north entrance will be mostly glass to let in natural light. Gardens will surround the front doors, along with an outdoor learning stair — an area where students can congregate before or after school. Inside, there will be another learning stair and a secure entrance into the clinic and high school.

 

A 2,500-square-foot Charles Drew Medical Clinic, featuring mostly dental services, will be on the first floor. It will have two dental bays, three exam rooms and a learning space.

 

A large stairway in the main entrance leads to the second floor, which includes offices, a shared break room and another learning space.

 

Community members, staff and students will have access to family therapy, teacher training and student training — such as parenting classes — through Methodist. Project Harmony, a resource for child abuse services and training, will offer mental health and therapy sessions.

 

Benson High students in the school’s health professions academy will work alongside providers, said Angela Johanek, Benson’s college and career academy specialist. Roughly 350 Benson High School students are enrolled in the academy.

 

“This service is a way for them to also have real life experience within a high school setting,” Johanek said. “They can work with professionals, they can talk with professionals, they can use them as a resource.”