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Putting Health Care Where Kids Are … … in School!
Putting Health Care Where Kids Are …
… in School!
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.
What is a school health center? • Delivers primary medical care - basic medical
services like any doctor’s 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
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
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
What types of services do school health centers provide?
Services Provided at CaliforniaSchool Health Centers (N=105)
National Assembly on School-Based Health Care, 2004-2005 Census
Service % Clinics
Screenings 91%
Immunizations 82%
Comprehensive health assessment 82%
Prescriptions for medications 81%
Asthma treatment 80%
Treatment of acute illness 79%
Nutrition counseling 78%
Behavioral risk assessment 70%
Assessment of psychological development 55%
Reproductive health counseling and/or testing 45%
Dental screenings 47%
Mental health therapy 42%
Dental preventative care 14%
School health centers put health care where the kids are.
Berkeley High School Health Center
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.
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
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
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
Governor’s 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
Parents and teachers team up
for student success:
Teachers can focus on teaching, and
students can learn.
Fremont High, Oakland, CATiger Health Clinic
