Akron Children’s partners with Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio to offer pediatric health services to Club members

BGCNEO provides a variety of after-school programming for youth ages 6 to 18, with many calling the Clubs a second home.

Akron Children’s has been named the exclusive pediatric partner for health care services and programming for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio (BGCNEO).

About the collaboration

The partnership will include a new Akron Children’s pediatric primary care office at BGCNEO’s Broadway Club, located at 6114 Broadway Ave. in Cleveland. In addition, the collaboration will benefit families in all BGCNEO clubs throughout Cuyahoga, Lorain, Erie and Summit counties by offering Club members with convenient in-person access to nearby Akron Children’s Pediatrics primary care offices and telehealth services.

Key elements of the partnership include:

• Akron Children’s new Broadway location will be open to the community, in addition to offering full-service pediatric care to all BGCNEO Broadway Club members.

• The hospital will embed pediatric behavioral health services in the Broadway Avenue practice. This has become a standard of care for all of the 46 offices in Akron Children’s pediatric primary care network.

• For BGCNEO sites in Summit County, Cuyahoga, Erie and Lorain counties, Akron Children’s will offer high-quality, affordable pediatric health services for Club members and community children up to age 21. This includes well-child visits and preventive screenings, as well as walk-in, same-day sick visits.

• Telehealth (video visits) with advanced technology to include remote vital sign assessment will also be available at Broadway and BGCNEO club sites in Summit County, Cuyahoga, Erie and Lorain counties.

A shared mission of helping kids

“Akron Children’s and BGCNEO have aligned missions – wanting the very best for children in terms of their health and opportunities in life,” said Brian Dinger, vice president, Primary Care & School Health for Akron Children’s. “We know we need to think creatively in how we improve access to health care for children and families. This partnership brings highly trained pediatric providers to a community center and Clubs where kids and families already feel connected and comfortable.”

BGCNEO provides a variety of after-school programming for youth ages 6 to 18, with many calling the Clubs a second home. Activities focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles and character development while providing a safe environment with caring adult mentors.

“This partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio and Akron Children’s truly represents a groundbreaking opportunity for our organization; and, most importantly, for the youth, families and communities we serve. We are excited about the impact this initiative will have on the health, wellness and overall development of our members,” said Allen Smith, CEO for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. “We extend our sincere gratitude to Akron Children’s for its diligence, leadership and genuine willingness to collaborate and bring this vision to life. The BGCNEO’s board is committed to innovation and to seeking partnerships that enable the Clubs to bring life-changing services to our young people.”

The office, to be known and branded as Akron Children’s Pediatrics at Broadway Boys & Girls Club, is expected to open in October 2026. The 3,165-square-foot facility will have 6 exam rooms and a dedicated room for behavioral health appointments.