Barbour Community Health Association is thrilled to announce longtime BCHA nurse practitioner Joyce Wilson, FN-P, will take on the role of School-Based Health Services Director for Barbour County Schools. Over the last few years, the county’s school-based clinic services have grown significantly leading to a need for a director to oversee staff and operations.
Wilson, a native of Barbour County, has 30 years of experience as a nurse with the last 10 of those years dedicated to BCHA patients. She earned an Associate of Science in Nursing from Davis and Elkins College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Alderson Broaddus College. She received her Master’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.
In her new role, Wilson will oversee the clinics in the county schools and the AB Wellness Center at Alderson Broaddus campus.
In 2020, BCHA contracted with Barbour County Schools to offer medical and behavioral health services to all schools in Barbour County. This contract ensures that students and their families have access to medical and behavioral health care through school-based health care.
Some of Wilson’s duties will include managing the clinics’ growing staff, ensuring evaluations are completed and maintaining a solid relationship with Barbour County Schools.
“I want to make sure that BCHA’s school-based clinics are well connected with the school system and make sure that there is a mutual respect,” said Wilson.
Wilson also hopes to revisit and rewrite some of the policies so they are effective in providing the best services within the schools. She also wants to maintain cohesiveness among all the school-based clinics.
“I want to meet with the school system to determine how (BCHA) fits in so that we can shine some light on what is going on in the schools and empower the parents to be more involved,” she said. “It needs to be a team effort to make sure the kids are getting what they need even when school isn’t in session.”
Wilson hopes that the school-based clinics continue to play a positive role in the students’ lives and they feel that they are being looked after within the schools.
“If we want to have a better county, we have to make sure to take care of these kids who are the future of our county,” she said.
Wilson has been a part of the BCHA team for the past 10 years and says it’s a place that truly cares for its employees.
“I love Barbour Community Health Association and I will work here until I retire and probably volunteer after I have retired,” she said.
