Many children enrolled in schools across the country have health conditions that affect their daily lives. These conditions can range from asthma to mental health conditions like ADHD and Anxiety. Unfortunately, countless children and adolescents do not have access to health care to meet their health needs.
Furthermore, Children who have access to health care services typically must miss school to see their doctor.
School-based health centers make getting your child’s health needs met easier. Why? School based health centers provide check-ups, lab tests, prescriptions, counseling, and routine visits for conditions like asthma and diabetes. These services are usually offered in your child’s school.
What Are School-Based Health Centers?
SBHC (school-based health centers) provide various health care services to students K-12th grade. The services will often depend on the local needs of the school. School-based health centers are located in the school. SBHCs (School Based Health Centers) are typically a partnership between the school and a community health organization, like a hospital, clinic, or health department.
School-based health centers can only provide students with permission from parents. It is essential to remember that SBHC is not meant to replace your child’s doctor. Your child’s SBHC will work with your child’s doctor to provide the best care.
What Services Do School-Based Health Centers Provide?
School-based clinics can offer several pediatric health care services such as:
- Medical care
- Check-ups
- Scoliosis screenings
- Health Screenings
- Counseling
- Mental health screenings
- Tooth exams
- Flu shots
- Reproductive health services
- Vision and hearing services
- Health education
- Substance abuse counseling
- Nutrition education
- Sports physicals
How Do School-Based Health Centers Benefit Students and Parents?
School-based health centers provide easy access to various kinds of health care needs for students. As a result, parents don’t have to worry about their children missing school or taking time off work for doctor appointments.
Studies have also shown that teens who may be hesitant about going to the doctor for difficulties, for instance, mental health and nutrition issues, are more likely to get help at SBHCs. This is probably because the students can build trust with the providers.
Children often find themselves sick with acute illnesses such as colds, the flu, sinus infections, strep throat, and ear infections. School-based clinics can quickly treat some of these contagious illnesses and help prevent the spread to classmates, siblings, and family members.
How Do School-Based Health Centers Communicate with Parents?
Keeping parents in the loop is often a key focus of SBHCs. They keep parents in the know via written letters, phone calls, home visits, or via website. Parents can also attend appointments with their children in person via phone or computer. To reiterate, SBHCs can only provide care with the parents’ written permission.
How Much Do Parents Have to Pay?
Many school-based health centers accept health insurance, such as Medicaid and CHIP. They also take private insurance. Many SBHCs often offer care on a sliding scale based on the family’s income. In some cases, depending on the situation, care can be free. You can get more information from your child’s school-based health center.
Bottom Line
School-based health centers offer health care services to students inside the school or close by. These health care centers are often a partnership between the school and a health care organization. SBHCs provide physicals, medical care, health screenings, counseling, and even health education.
These health care centers give students and families easier access to health care. They also offer convenience, as students can miss less school, and parents don’t stress about missing work.
Resources
School-Based Health Centers (for Parents) – Nemours KidsHealth
The Evidence on School-Based Health Centers: A Review (sagepub.com)
School-Based Health Centers – RHIhub SDOH Toolkit (ruralhealthinfo.org)
School-Based Health Centers (texas.gov)
Twenty Years Of School-Based Health Care Growth And Expansion | Health Affairs
