New ThriveKids Clinic Opens in New Orleans East, Addressing Healthcare Gap
A new community clinic, ThriveKids, opened today in New Orleans East, offering expanded primary and mental healthcare services to a historically underserved population.
Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, three young patients were already waiting at the clinic, located inside the New Orleans East Opportunity Center and connected to The Net school. Among them was Amari-Lyn Thompson, who experienced a severe allergic reaction at school and now has immediate access to care without needing to travel across the city. The ThriveKids Community Clinic, the first under the Manning Family Children’s umbrella, will operate Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is expected to serve approximately 5,000 children in its first year.
The clinic boasts a team of three pediatricians, a pediatric psychiatrist, a licensed clinical social worker, a nurse, and a medical assistant, providing care for patients from birth to 21. “There’s never enough primary care doctors,” said Dr. Patrice Evers, a pediatrician at the clinic. “I think we’re going to get busy quickly.” The opening addresses a significant disparity in access to pediatric healthcare; nearly 20,000 children reside in New Orleans East, according to The Data Center, yet dedicated pediatric facilities have been lacking. This lack of access can contribute to poorer health outcomes and increased emergency room visits.
Funded initially by a $10 million, three-year grant from the American Rescue Act, Manning Family Children’s is actively seeking to renew and expand the program. “How well our kids live and how long they live shouldn’t be dependent on what ZIP code they’re in,” stated Lou Fragoso, president and CEO of Manning Family Children’s. The program builds on existing partnerships with NOLA Public Schools and the New Orleans Health Department, having already provided over 20,000 mental health counseling sessions in schools last year.
Leaders of Manning Family Children’s plan to open more community-based clinics in underserved areas if additional federal support is secured.
