About School-Based Health Care

HEALS staff members in Alabama focus on health and wellness education.
They teach children how to manage chronic diseases like asthma,
plus dental hygiene, nutrition, and exercise.
Students perform better when they show up for class healthy and ready to learn. School-based health centers (SBHCs) bring the doctor's office to the school so students avoid health-related absences and get support to succeed in the classroom.

SBHCs exist at the intersection of education and health and are the caulk that prevents children and adolescents from falling through the cracks. They provide care – primary health, mental health and counseling, family outreach, and chronic illness management – without concern for the student’s ability to pay and in a location that meets students where they are: at school.

SBHCs may vary based on community need and resources.

Common characteristics of SBHCs include:
  • Located in schools or on school grounds.
  • Work cooperatively within the school to become an integral part of the school.
  • Provide a comprehensive range of services that meet the specific physical and behavioral health needs of the young people in the community.
  • Employ a multidisciplinary team of providers to care for the students: nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician assistants, social workers, physicians, alcohol and drug counselors, and other health professionals.
  • Provide clinical services through a qualified health provider such as a hospital, health department, or medical practice.
  • Require parents to sign written consents for their children to receive the full scope of services provided at the SBHC.
  • Have an advisory board consisting of community representatives, parents, youth, and family organizations, to provide planning and oversight.
Alternative Model: School-Linked Health Centers
  • Located off school grounds
  • Often serve more than one school
  • Established methods of referral, communication, and follow-up with SBHC partners
  • Often extended hours beyond school day
  • Often broader scope of services than SBHCs
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