Renton students received free sports physicals and mental health services at a health fair held on August 13. The event, which was the fourth installment of a multi-year partnership between the Renton School District, the Seattle Sounders F.C. soccer team, and Providence Swedish healthcare services, aimed to remove barriers to physical and mental health services for Renton students.

Free Services for Students

Over 310 students were registered for the event, an increase from last year’s 200. Students were seen by over 20 on-site volunteer physicians and nurse practitioners in private curtained stalls within the event space. The physicians provided care for students, including eye examinations, blood pressure tests, and other routine components of a sports physical. For the first time in the event’s history, students were also screened by physicians from Seattle Children’s Cardiology to detect any undiagnosed cardiac conditions.

On top of the free physicals, students in all 27 Renton schools could also sign up to receive free behavioral therapy appointments with bilingual and diverse licensed therapists through Hazel Health, a school-based tele-mental health provider. This service became available to students in 2023 as a result of an initiative to improve student mental health funded by Providence’s Well-Being Trust.

Community Support

The event was well-received by the community, with parents and students alike appreciating the convenience and support provided. Rebecca Bland, a parent to two Renton students in school sports, said the event was a huge help, allowing her to get everything done at once. The event also provided an opportunity for the Sounders to build community and alleviate stress for Renton parents getting their kids ready for school sports.

Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.