A Bridge Between Classroom and Clinic: Inside Faribault's School-Based Health Center This Fall
Two Faribault High School students, Ivan and Sierra, give their own tour of the new space in the video on this page—press play, then read on for what's new this fall.
Last year, HealthFinders opened a school-based health center inside Faribault High School, bringing medical, dental, and behavioral health care to students right where they already spend their days. This fall, that space has a permanent home—and it's ready for a full year of students.
Built With Students, For Students
Over the summer, the finishing pieces came together: a dental chair, medical exam space, and room for behavioral health support, all inside the high school. HealthFinders' Youth Board and program participants helped shape the space themselves.
“It has been great to see the clinic come to life,” said Charlie Mandile, HealthFinders’ Executive Director. “Youth board and MESA participants have been so helpful in everything, from assembling furniture to choosing the decor, we really want this to feel like their clinic.”
The center now offers the same dental care available at other HealthFinders' clinics, alongside medical visits and a dedicated space for behavioral health consultations. Its own exterior door gives students and families direct access, even after the school day ends.
The school-based health center is a bridge between classroom and clinic, bringing care right where students are—and this year, HealthFinders staff will be on-site any time school is in session.
Come Get Connected
For Charlie, that accessibility is the whole point. “This is a HealthFinders location that happens to be inside the school,” he said. “We need every student and every staff member to know: it’s here, it’s accessible, and there are great services happening right downstairs. Walk in—we want to see you in the space.”
That message matters just as much to Wendy Sara, HealthFinders’ Community Engagement Coordinator, who has spent the summer working alongside the school’s nurses, counselors, and administration to get ready for the year. “This center showcases what we can do together,” Wendy said. “It was created with community, and it reflects our culture. We want every student who walks through that door to feel like it belongs to them.”
Care That Meets the Whole Student
The health center is also the visible piece of a much bigger effort. HealthFinders' behavioral health and substance use counselors, who joined the team last school year, will continue to see students throughout the building and across the district—not just inside the center itself.
For Mandile, all of it reflects HealthFinders’ broader model of care. “This is a manifestation of our model,” he said. “It’s accessible, low-cost, comprehensive care, placed right where people need it, so we can catch things early—in a way that’s better and cheaper for everyone. Healthy students learn better. By putting this resource inside a school, we’re not just getting students quicker access to care. We’re helping them stay in school, so they can build the kind of life that comes from that.”
Cassie Riopelle, Director of Community Education and Engagement for Faribault Public Schools echoes Mandile’s sentiments. “I’m so excited to see the School-Based Health Center come to life,” she says. “The physical space is impressive, but what’s even more exciting is what this space means for our students and families. Having expanded health services, dental care, chemical health and mental health services right here at Faribault High School provides convenience and helps remove barriers that can sometimes stand in the way of students accessing the care and support they need.”
Join Us at the Open House
HealthFinders will celebrate the center's new space with a School-Based Health Center Open House on October 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Faribault High School, with a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. Families, partners, and neighbors are invited to tour the space, meet the team, and hear directly from students and staff about the care happening there.
Moments like these are only possible because of a community that keeps showing up for students—as patients, families, volunteers, partners, and neighbors who help spread the word that care is here.
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