Policy Statements

NASBHC Policy Statements

Definition of School-Based Health Center - Seven key components of SBHCs document a standard of care, nationwide.

Role of Community in Defining Scope of Services - What services will be provided in any individual SBHC is determined through a collaborative process that includes the health care provider agency, the school district and the community.

Adolescents' Access to Health Care - Numerous evaluations have shown SBHCs to achieve marked improvements in adolescent health care access when compared with adolescent utilization in other settings. This is especially true for important services delivered on site, such as family planning, screening and counseling on sexually transmitted diseases, mental health, and substance abuse services.

The School Nurse/School-Based Health Center Partnership - School nurses and SBHC staff share an important mission: protecting and advancing the health and well-being of our nation’s school-aged children. Although multiple health professionals in a school setting may have distinctive and complementary functions, funding, and accountability, their objectives are met effectively and efficiently through collaboration.

Interdisciplinary Care - The purpose of this policy statement is to promote interdisciplinary practice within SBHCs and to confirm that mutual respect and coordination of care between SBHC staff and other health professionals practicing in schools, including nurses, nutritionists, as well as mental health and other counseling professionals are essential to the provision of health care in schools.

The Role of SBHCs in Improving Health Inequities and Reducing Health Disparities - Access to culturally competent, high quality, first-contact primary care through school-based health centers is an effective way to reduce health inequities and, therefore, improve health outcomes for socially disadvantaged children and adolescents.

Documentation of the Relationship Between School-Based Health Centers and the Academic Accomplishments of Students - Current national educational policies, such as the No Child Left Behind Act, are increasingly exerting pressure upon schools to document improvements in student achievement. With increasing competition for limited school resources, the continued vitality and viability of school programs, such as SBHCs, may depend upon their ability to demonstrate their contribution toward academic success.

Medicaid and School-Based Health Centers - Medicaid is a critical source of funding for SBHCs and is a key component towards their long-term fiscal stability. Yet, barriers to Medicaid reimbursement exist for too many SBHCs, and this important source of revenue is often not fully realized.

SBHC Policy Statements

American Academy of Pediatrics (2012) - Policy Statement: School-based Health Centers and Pediatric Practice.

American Psychiatric Association (1990) - School-based Health Clinics Position Statement.

League of Women Voters (2012) - Federal Role in Public Education Position.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (2011) - Resolutions Ratified by the National Board of Directors Under Article IX, Section 1 of the Constitution of the NAACP.

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (2008) - NAPNAP Position Statement on School-based Health Care.

National Association of School Nurses (2011) - The Role of the School Nurse and School Based Health Centers.

Society for Adolescent Medicine (2001) - School Based Health Center Position Paper of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.