BELOIT - With the impending school year not too far away, the Beloit Area Community Health Center (BACHC) is here to help students get prepared.
The center will host its Back to School Nights from 1 - 5:30 p.m. today and on Aug. 13.
The events are open to all local children, and they don't have to be a patient of BACHC to participate.
Each child will have access to school and sports physicals, covered by Medicaid or for a reduced fee of $25 per child.
Each child also will receive a backpack - provided by United Healthcare - filled with school supplies.
Julie Sprecher, CEO of BACHC, said this is an event her staff looks forward to every year.
"They enjoy seeing all the families who come back to our clinic year after year," Sprecher said. "Our medical staff especially like getting children ready for a healthy start to the school year with a preventative exam and immunizations."
To meet the demand for back to school and sports physicals, BACHC has increased the hours in which they will be providing physicals by starting at 1 p.m. each day.
Marketing manager Monica A. Krysztopa said the appointments typically last between 20-30 minutes depending on the need of the child.
Krysztopa encourages families to schedule an appointment by calling 608-361-0311, as they have already begun to fill up.
She said front desk staff will assist with setting up an appointment that works for each family. She said the center will accept a few walk-ins.
"We don't want to turn families away," Krysztopa said. "We want to make sure we fulfill the needs of as many children as possible."