“By ‘adopting’ Hope Academy this school year, we at Decatur Memorial Hospital are actively engaging in our hospital’s mission to improve lives and build stronger communities through better health,” said Sonja Chargois, community health coordinator at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Each month, representatives of Decatur Memorial Hospital will engage in reading sessions with third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students. Books will then be donated to the school’s library.

In addition, Decatur Memorial Hospital will sponsor and present Stop the Bleed training for Hope Academy faculty and staff. In Stop the Bleed training, participants learn to recognize life-threatening bleeding and to respond quickly and effectively using three methods of bleeding control.

A “Fall Family Night” will be held at the school in October. The event will focus on health care services available to Hope Academy students and families through Decatur Memorial Hospital and Heritage Behavioral Health Center.

Decatur Memorial Hospital will also host a health care supplies donation drive at its campus in December. The donated health care supplies will help restock the nurse’s office at Hope Academy.

“Hope Academy strives to create an environment in which teachers and faculty focus on the whole child and students are empowered with skills to become citizens who productively participate in society,” said Tasia Burks, principal of Hope Academy. “When we partner with groups like Decatur Memorial Hospital, we expand our students’ connection and engagement with their community and provide them and their families extra support to live their best lives.”

Hope Academy serves about 575 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.