East Lansing, MI – MBN was on the road north, Thursday, Oct. 30, 11:30 a.m., at East Lansing High School, 509 Burcham Drive, East Lansing. The event was at door 59, off of Old Hickory on the east side of the high school.
UM Health–Sparrow is partnering with East Lansing Public Schools to open a special health center designed to address the needs of young people, ages 5-21, and meet them where students already spend most of their day — school. The East Lansing Public Schools Health Center, staffed by UM Health–Sparrow clinicians, will provide a variety of health services year-round, including preventative care, health screenings, health education, behavioral health services and treatment of minor injuries.
Watch the introduction of the UMH Sparrow clinic in East Lansing with ribbon cutting in the YouTube video shared below:
UM Health-Sparrow and East Lansing Public Schools have launched a new youth health clinic at East Lansing High School, expanding access to care for patients ages five to 21 across the region. Open year-round and welcoming both students and non-students, the clinic removes traditional barriers such as transportation, missed school, and time away from work, while accepting insured and uninsured patients regardless of ability to pay.
The clinic is staffed by an advanced practice provider, a medical assistant, and a social worker, reflecting a growing emphasis on integrated physical and behavioral health. Leaders note that mental and behavioral health services represent the greatest demand, mirroring results from a similar UM Health-Sparrow clinic opened in Grand Ledge in 2024, where roughly two-thirds of visits have focused on mental health needs.
From a business and workforce perspective, the partnership highlights how health systems and school districts can collaborate to improve outcomes while increasing efficiency. By locating care where families already are, the model reduces absenteeism, supports working parents, and helps students stay healthy and ready to learn—benefits that extend beyond education into long-term community productivity.
Officials describe the East Lansing clinic as a scalable investment, with space to grow services such as nutrition or exercise support over time. As UM Health-Sparrow continues to refine this model, leaders say it represents a blueprint for addressing underserved populations through innovative, community-based care delivery.
