
Health department to host back to school clinics
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Health department to host back to school clinics
The DHD4’s “One Stop’ Back to School Clinic is perfect for busy families. Michigan requires hearing and vision screenings before children enter kindergarten. Free dental assessments are available for kindergarten-age children. The back to school clinics serve as an opportunity for families to learn what support they can receive from the DHD2 and No. 4. The clinics are held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting in early August, in Alpena, Cheboygan, Montmorency, Rogers City and Pascagoula. The DHD3 will be providing community connection services to educate families on what services are available through the health department.
Dack told The News that the health department’s back to school clinics, starting in early August, are opportunities to take their school-age children to get important screenings and immunizations.
“These clinics allow busy families to get needed hearing and vision screenings, oral health assessments and fluoride, immunizations, and community connection resources for their children, before school starts, all in one appointment,” Dack said.
According to Dack, Michigan requires hearing and vision screenings before children enter kindergarten. Dack explained that hearing screenings are beneficial to children and families because sometimes hearing impediments are hard to detect without an exam.
Further, according to the health department, a new Michigan kindergarten entry requirement took effect during the 2024-2025 school year. Kindergarten-age children are now required to receive a dental screening to enter kindergarten.
Dack explained that oral health screenings are especially important for young children because their enamel is thin, thus raising the risk for cavities.
Michigan requires students to have up-to-date immunizations or a waiver by the first day of school, according to DHD4. Dack stated that if a child is entering a licensed child care, kindergarten, seventh grade, or a new school district, parents need to review their child’s immunization records.
At the DHD4 clinic, children from preschool age to 18 can receive immunizations and free vision and hearing screenings; free dental assessments are available for kindergarten-age children.
In addition to providing immunization and screenings for children, DHD4 will be providing community connection services to educate families on what services are available through the health department. Health department services include finding doctors and insurance, transportation arrangements, support for finding food and shelter, and more.
Dack said that when she first started working for the health department, she didn’t realize how many services the department provides to the public so she can imagine that community members don’t always know what services are available to them at their local health departments.
Dack stated that the back to school clinics serve as an opportunity for families to learn what support they can receive from the DHD4.
All clinics are held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Below are the dates and locations of the clinics:
— Monday, Aug. 4 at the Alpena DHD4 office (100 Woods Circle, Alpena).
— Thursday, Aug. 7 at the DHD4 Cheboygan office (825 S. Huron St., Cheboygan).
— Friday, Aug. 8 at the DHD4 Montmorency office (12480 State St., Atlanta).
— Friday, Aug. 15 at the DHD4 Presque Isle office (106 E. Huron St., Rogers City).
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.
Source: https://www.thealpenanews.com/news/2025/07/health-department-to-host-back-to-school-clinics/