Putting Health Care Where Kids Are in School

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Putting Health Care Where Kids Are in
School!
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The California School Health Centers Association
(CSHC)

• CSHC promotes the health of children and youth by
  increasing access to the high quality health care
  and support services provided by school health
  centers.

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What is a school health center?

• Delivers primary medical care - basic medical
  services like any doctors office or clinic - in
  collaboration with a school
• Located on campus or near a school site
• May also provide mental health services, dental
  care, after school programs, clubs, nutrition
  programs, parent groups, etc.
• Works on school-wide issues like health education
• Serves students and sometimes siblings, family
  members and the community

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School health centers extend health care beyond
the walls of the exam room and provide a level of
comprehensive service that pediatricians can
rarely provide.
Manual Arts High School, Los Angeles, CA
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There are 153 school health centers in California

• 42 in elementary schools
• 14 in middle schools
• 58 in high schools
• 16 on mixed-grade campuses
• 23 not on campus linked or mobile vans

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What types of services do school health centers
provide?
Services Provided at California School Health
Centers (N105)
National Assembly on School-Based Health Care,
2004-2005 Census
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School health centers put health care where the
kids are.
Berkeley High School Health Center
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Relationship between Health Status and Academic
Performance¹
¹ Geierstranger SP, Amaral G. School-Based Health
Centers and Academic Performance What is the
intersection? April 2004 Meeting Proceedings.
White Paper. Washington, D.C National Assembly
on School-Based Health Care 2005.
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Research shows a positive impact from school
health centers on student learning

• Reduced absences and tardiness
• Increased promotion to the next grade

• Decreased withdrawal/drop out rates
• Reduced disciplinary problems

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School health centers work closely with parents
and families to

• Support healthy eating and physical activity
• Manage chronic conditions such as asthma, and
  acute injuries or illness at school
• Prevent unintentional injuries and violence
• Support positive coping mechanisms and
  self-esteem
• Prevent or reduce risky behaviors such as drug,
  tobacco or alcohol use and sexual activity
• Enroll children and families in health insurance,
  if needed

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How are school health centers financed?

• Space and utilities are typically contributed by
  the school
• Third-party reimbursement
• Child Health and Disability Program
• Family PACT
• Medi-Cal
• Expanded Access to Primary Care
• Healthy Families
• Public and private grants
• No financial support from the state

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Governors White Paper on School-Based Health
Centers

• Administration will work with healthcare and
  education stakeholders and legislative leaders to
  develop an initiative to support and expand SBHCs
  to 500 elementary schools. -- 2006

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Parents and teachers team up for student success
Teachers can focus on teaching, and students
can learn.
Fremont High, Oakland, CA Tiger Health Clinic
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• California School
• Health Centers Association
• 510-268-1260
• info_at_schoolhealthcenters.org
• www.schoolhealthcenters.org