What is a School-Based Health Center?

A school-based health center (SBHC) is a health care facility located within or on school grounds. It is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of medical and behavioral health specialists. Sometimes dental professionals are also included on the multi-disciplinary team.

Each school-based health program is different, but a sampling of services might include comprehensive well-child and well-adolescent exams, immunizations, treatment for illness or injury, management of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes or asthma, mental health assessment and treatment, prevention programs including smoking, violence and pregnancy, substance abuse counseling, nutrition counseling, and dental cleaning and sealants.

School-based health centers serve students whose access to care is limited. Services are designed to identify problems early, provide continuity of care, and improve academic participation.

Key features of all school-based centers:

• School officials and parents determine the scope of services offered

• Parents must sign a detailed consent form before their child may receive service

During the 2007-08 school year, 18 school-based health center programs operated 44 sites. A total of 80,341 visits and 30,808 immunizations were provided to 26,650 users.

The health insurance status of SBHC users in 2007-08 was 50% uninsured, 28% Medicaid, 11% private insurance, 6% Child Health Plan Plus, 4% unknown and 1% CHAMPUS, TRICARE or other government program. Of the total visits, 59% were for primary care, 18% for mental health, 3% substance abuse counseling, 8% immunization only, 3% dental care, 9% health education.

In 2007-08, new school-based health centers opened in Aurora, Montrose, Durango, Lamar, Basalt, and Lakewood for a current Colorado total of 44.

For current locations, see our 2009-2010 Directory of School-Based Health Centers in Colorado.