Believing that children learn better when they are healthy, Providence Hospitals and a group of committed community citizens established Healthy Learners in 1992 to help alleviate health related barriers to learning that face economically disadvantaged children.
Currently, four Healthy Learners programs serve more than 150 schools in 19 school districts across South Carolina.
A ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, Healthy Learners’ services include vision care, dental care, hearing evaluations, assistance with prescription medications, clinical counseling and episodic care for other health concerns. Throughout the years, thousands of children have received health care services statewide and thousands of miles have been traveled while transporting children to their health care appointments.
Healthy Learners’ program evaluation outcome measures have documented a significant number of children with health status improvement, increased self-esteem and improved ability to perform academically in school. Not only have Healthy Learners' children improved their academic performance, the immense health disparities that economically disadvantaged children face are narrowing.
Learn more at www.healthylearners.com.
2711 MIDDLEBURG DRIVE
SUITE 304
COLUMBIA, SC 29204
P: 803 454 0350
WWW.HEALTHYLEARNERS.COM
AMY SPLITTGERBER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
HEALTHY LEARNERS
Amy Splittgerber became the executive director of Healthy Learners in 2019. She has more than 20 years of experience in public health, including serving as the founding director for two non-profit organizations focused on fostering sustainable, healthy communities. She previously was the founding executive director of the SC Alliance of YMCAs, providing support to 20 YMCA associations in statewide initiatives, engaging in state and national advocacy, and developing partnerships with organizations and state agencies. She also founded Eat Smart, Move More South Carolina, where she managed a budget of $1.6 million while creating local healthy eating and active living coalitions across the state and engaging more than 1,000 partners and organizations in best practices.
Recent Blog Posts
April 3, 2024
Healthy Learners releases 2023 annual report, highlighting how the ministry is painting a world full of possibilities
Last year, Healthy Learners provided 15,841 services and 21,334 health screenings to children across South Carolina, traveling 115,179 miles to enable students to receive those screenings and services. The Healthy Learners 2023 Annual Report highlights these figures and provides updates on each service area and how the ministry continues to expand the services and screenings provided to ensure healthy children, better students and thriving communities.
November 3, 2023
Healthy Learners highlights mission and success stories in latest newsletter
Healthy Learners provides students with access to essential medical, dental and vision care so that they have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Check out the latest newsletter from Healthy Learners to discover the heart of its mission, a student’s origin story to become a superhero, and more heartwarming stories.
September 11, 2023
Healthy Learners to host two Songwriters in the Round fundraising events
Healthy Learners is hosting two Nashville Songwriters in the Round fundraising events in October. Songwriters in the Round is an intimate and music-filled fundraiser directly supporting the mission of removing children's health barriers to learning. The event features four Nashville singer-songwriters, all of whom have received high acclaim in the music industry for their song-writing mastery with chart-topping artists as well as individual industry success. Presented "in the round" with special attention dedicated to the seating layout, each guest has the opportunity to experience artists in an up-close and inspiring way.
August 17, 2023
News19: Healthy Learners helps bridge gap in vision care for children in South Carolina Midlands
Many children might face difficulty seeing the board in classrooms as the school year gets underway. Parents who are underinsured or uninsured might find vision exams costly. The Healthy Learners program in the South Carolina Midlands hopes to close that financial gap for children by coordinating care, transportation to appointments and helping parents with the Medicaid application process. The program is partnered with local school districts to assist families with health services such as vision, dental and hearing. News19 WLTX in Columbia, South Carolina, highlighted Healthy Learners in a story about the importance of getting a child's vision checked.