BGISD partners with CAYA Collaborative Care, Inc. for health services

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Health services for Bowling Green Independent School District students and employees will be provided by CAYA Collaborative Care, Inc. beginning Aug. 1 for the 2026-27 school year.

According to BGISD, the agreement ensures comprehensive medical care remains accessible across the district.

The district says the health services program started in 2019 when BGISD partnered with Graves Gilbert Clinic, establishing a baseline of care of school nurses and a walk-in clinic managed by an onsite nurse.

According to BGISD, at the end of May 2026, Graves Gilbert Clinic informed Superintendent Gary Fields it would be ending its health services partnership with the district.

Following this decision, Joe Dan Beavers, president and CEO of CAYA, committed to providing health services for the district, including the employment of nine nurses serving BGISD, plus an additional nursing position to serve the Bowling Green Learning Center.

“We are incredibly proud to expand our relationship with BGISD to ensure that no student or staff member faces a gap in care,” said Joe Dan Beavers, President and CEO of CAYA. “Our goal is to not only provide a great service but also to set a model for school-based health, integrating primary care and behavioral health directly into the educational environment.”

The district says it has a long-standing history of collaboration with the organization, formerly known as LifeSkills, Inc., as the organization has provided mental health counseling and behavioral support across all schools.

“We understand the vital importance of health services to the success of our students, as well as the importance of school nurses as valued individuals in our district,” said Superintendent Gary Fields. “When our previous partnership concluded, CAYA stepped up without hesitation to employ our nursing team and maintain our healthcare pipeline. We are excited to expand our partnership with an organization that champions the well-being of our entire school family.”

As BGISD transitions to CAYA, employees and families should expect little to no difference in day-to-day medical services provided within the schools, the district says.

According to BGISD, daily school health functions will remain fully operational, including:

• The delivery and management of student medications
• Standard first-aid and medical triage
• Direct access to an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse via telemedicine services
• Onsite laboratory screenings for flu, strep, and COVID-19 with immediate results
• Billing practices and electronic health records will also remain in place as the district transitions to CAYA’s secure network.

Essential care will continue to be provided to all eligible students and employees regardless of income or insurance status, the district says.