Medical Care
Medical care in a school health center is grounded in a collaborative relationship between a health provider and a student. By providing medical care in a youth-friendly, easily accessible way, SHCs greatly improve physical health outcomes for youth, especially among those historically underserved by traditional hospitals and clinics.
Specific services include:
- age-appropriate health screenings and psycho-social assessments
- diagnosis and treatment of acute conditions
- immunizations
- sports physicals
- first aid
- family planning services
- obesity intervention
- management of chronic health conditions
- medical case management
- follow-up and referrals to a primary care provider or home clinic
Behavioral Health Care
Social-emotional health is the foundation of a young person’s success, in school and in life. Over one-third of visits to our school health centers are for behavioral health issues, and many students who come to SHCs with physical symptoms actually have underlying emotional issues, such as anxiety or stress. Our SHCs provide an integrated model of behavioral health care, meaning that when SHC providers meet with a young person, they look at all the factors that influence well-being. If a student needs social-emotional support, SHCs can provide crisis and brief intervention and link students to supports.
Dental Care
Regular dental care and good dental hygiene is a healthy habit with a lifelong payoff.Having access to a dental home is an important part of universal access to care. Recognizing that students with toothaches have lower GPAs and miss more school, we have expanded dental care among our SHC network. All SHCs provide school-wide dental screenings and referrals for urgent care, with some providing sealants and dental health education schoolwide. SHCs with a dental operatory provide full dental care, including cleanings, X-rays, and fillings.
Health Education
Health education and promotion encompasses clinical health education, health promotion, and school climate activities. Clinical health education services include one-on-one and group support around specific health issues, e.g., family planning or nutrition. Health promotion activities are schoolwide in focus, and involve health campaigns, peer health education, health fairs, or classroom presentations. Health education topics cover a broad range from drug and alcohol prevention, violence and dating violence prevention, nutrition and fitness, to other personal skills contributing to overall health and wellness.
Youth Development
Young people need positive supports and opportunities in order to thrive. School health centers play a vital role in supporting students’ healthy development by providing a safe environment with caring adults, and opportunities for participation in authentic leadership and skill-building experiences. SHCs are very intentional about incorporating the ideas and experiences of youth themselves in shaping programs and services to meet their needs. SHCs help youth develop critical thinking skills and enhance their capacity to advocate for their own health and the health of their schools and communities through programs such as youth leadership and advocacy programs, Youth Advisory Boards, peer health education, and mentorships and internships
In addition to the core program areas, our School Health Center model includes a set of foundational elements that are essential for the growth, impact, and long-term stability of any school health initiative. The model also expands on the added complexity of working within both the health and education systems. There are many nuances to the operations of our SHCs that ensure they are welcoming and effective, while navigating the rules and regulations of both schools and health clinics.
