BroadbandOhio has partnered with the nonprofit Oregon Community Health Information Network to bring to fruition its plan to extend vital services to all Buckeye State K-12 students.

OCHIN has been named state telehealth administrator, with the expectation it will help connect students with healthcare providers and counselors in real-time.

“This represents another milestone in our efforts to expand broadband connectivity to more communities, in the most meaningful ways possible,” said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.

The pilot project for this work was launched in March 2020, in Monroe County’s Switzerland of Ohio School District. Success there inspired state officials to expand the effort, with a second project at the Muskingum Valley Educational Services Center in Zanesville. Six of the 15 districts there now have access to telehealth.

“Gov. DeWine’s and Lt. Governor Husted’s commitment to investing in innovative solutions to support the health and well-being of children and teens will serve as an effective model for states nationwide,” said Jennifer Stoll, executive vice president of external affairs at OCHIN.

The partnership does seem to be another step in bringing equal access to vital resources to all Ohioans.