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What is a School-Based Health Center (SBHC)?
A school-based health center is a facility providing preventive and primary health care services to children and adolescents conveniently located on or near a school campus. A SBHC is staffed by a multidisciplinary team that may include nurse practitioners, physicians, clinical social workers, psychologists, nutritionists, dentists, dental hygienists and/or administrators. While each SBHC is uniquely designed to meet the specific needs of the local community, there are many common characteristics.
Texas School Administrator: “It is a safe place for students.”
SBHCs are designed to:
- Serve All Students: with a focus on underserved populations;
- Reduce Health Inequities: thus improving student health;
- Be accessible: with a convenient location in a familiar setting;
- Provide High-Quality Primary Care: with a strong emphasis on prevention;
- Provide Chronic Disease Management: with an effort to decrease absences;
- Ensure Continuity of Care: building relationships with students;
- Develop Connectedness: referring students to community providers when diagnoses are beyond the scope of the SBHCs;
- Be Culturally Sensitive: meeting the needs of the local population through community input; and
- Support The Whole Child: addressing student success by collaborating with school nurses, teachers, parents, counselors, coaches, principals, and other school staff to reduce health-related barriers to achievement and promote healthy development.
Texas Parent and Teacher: “As a parent and a teacher, I think it is an absolutely wonderful service being provided to students in our district.”
SBHCs offer:
- Immunizations
- Well-child exams
- Sports physicals
- Acute care for minor illness and injury
- Management of chronic illness
- Dental screenings, treatment, and referral
- Mental health services
- Basic health education
When asked about the new (2015) fully integrated school-based health center launched by the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, pediatrician and director of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Johns Hopkins, Tina Chang comments, “In short, we need to go where the kids are. Children’s health and school performance are intertwined.” Read the article: On the Healthy Road to Academic Success.
Additional SBHC Definitions and Supporting Organizations
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
- Center for School, Health and Education
- SBHCs role in Preventing Dropout, Health and Well-being, School Climate, Hunger and Obesity, School Violence
- The Community Guide
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
- National Association of School Nurses
- Nemours KidsHealth
- School-Based Health Alliance
- US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)