The Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF) and Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) have launched a new phase of planning and collaboration to reenergize a 29-year partnership dedicated to student health and wellbeing.

Through this longstanding effort—known as the Coordinated Youth Initiative (CYI)—WPHF has provided nearly $24 million in grant funding to place mental health counselors and nurses in more than a dozen schools across Eatonville, Maitland and Winter Park.

On May 20, WPHF leaders welcomed the principals of those schools and OCPS district leaders to the Center for Health & Wellbeing to explore even more ways to meet the health needs of students, as well as the staff members who work tirelessly to nurture their learning and development.

Schools supported through CYI include:

Elementary: Aloma, Baldwin Park, Brookshire, Cheney, Dommerich, Hungerford, Lakemont and Lake Sybelia

K-8: Audubon Park

Middle: Glenridge and Maitland

High School: Winter Park 9th Grade Center and Winter Park High

The timing was especially meaningful with May recognized nationally as Mental Health Awareness Month.

Because: Healthy Kids Make Better Students, and Better Students Make Healthy Communities.