For the seventh year in a row, Shepherd’s Hope and Nemours Children’s Health System will be partnering up to provide free physicals for local uninsured and under-insured children as the back-to-school season approaches.
“Especially considering how COVID-19 has impacted our community, we want to make sure that children are healthy for the upcoming school year,” said Al Torres, M.D., medical director of the pediatric programs at the Partnerships for Nemours and board member of Shepherd’s Hope.
The free back-to-school physicals will be offered from July 27 to Aug. 6 at four different Shepherd’s Hope Health locations across the Orlando area. These locations include West Orange Health Center, Longwood Health Center, Dr. Diebel Jr. Memorial Health Center, and Downtown Health Center.
The physicals will include general health assessments and sports physicals with a Nemours specialist as well as vision and hearing screenings at select locations. Immunizations will be offered at the Longwood Health Center.
To qualify for a physical, children up to age 18 must be uninsured or under-insured. Appointments are necessary. Following the completion of their physical exam, children will receive the required Florida Department of Health form (DOH 3040), which meets the state requirement for enrollment in public or private school.
“Before the pandemic, nearly 30,000 children were without health insurance in Central Florida. We know, with over 300,000 people going on unemployment in May, that there is an escalated need for free back-to-school physicals this year. Families are struggling with losing their jobs and their healthcare coverage,” said Pam Gould, Shepherd’s Hope president and CEO. “We are so appreciative of the partnership with the Nemours Children’s Health System team and the financial support of the Harper Family Charitable Foundation to serve as many children in Central Florida as possible.”
Funding to support this initiative is being provided by a grant from the Harper Family Charitable Foundation, which provides for the health, education, maintenance, and well-being of disabled children and adults of all ages in the Central Florida area.
For eligibility assessment and appointments, call (407) 876-6699, ext. 221. For further information on this program, visit www.ShepherdsHope.org.
