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School-Based Health Care Basics

Bringing the Doctor's Office into Schools

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 may vary based on community need and resources.  For instance, some communities rely on mobile health centers, a type of SBHC with a traveling health care team that rotates from school to school.  But they also share common characteristics.  SBHCs:

• Are 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