Highlights
New State Funding for School-Based Health Centers in Oregon is Approved
The Oregon School-Based Health Care Network has secured $1.38 million in state funding for both new and existing school-based health centers in the state. The state legislation also passed a bill to expand Oregon Health Plan coverage to 80,000 more children and 35,000 adults. The Oregon Health Plan provides health insurance to low income residents in Oregon.
For more information, visit www.osbhcn.org
School Dropout Danger Zone Forum
The Massachusetts Coalition of School-Based Health Centers held a second forum on February 25, 2009 to showcase indicators beyond academic performance that can help identify students who are at risk of dropping out and those at risk of being “pushed out.”
Over 170 representatives from the health and education community, including school-based health centers; local businesses; and non-profit organizations and government programs supporting children and youth attended.
The forum series is a first step toward creating a collaborative action plan to address the underlying health, social and emotional challenges that contribute to school dropout. Proceedings from the forum will be shared with the School Dropout Commission which will be reporting to the legislature in May.
For more information, visit www.mcsbhc.org
School-Based Health Centers Included in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
The inclusion of a definition of school-based health centers in the reauthorized SCHIP legislation was the first time ever that school-based health centers have been included in a federal health insurance reimbursement program. The validation of school-based health centers as providers of SCHIP covered services empowers school-based health centers to seek provider status in their states’ SCHIP programs and opens the door for emerging opportunities for recognition and reimbursement from the federal government.
The School Community Health Alliance of Michigan and NASBHC worked with Sen. Stabenow (D-MI) to include school-based health centers in SCHIP.
For more information, visit www.nasbhc.org
California Expands School Health Centers by 500
In 2008, the California legislature passed the School Health Center Expansion Act, creating a state grant program for school-based health centers. The Governor signed the measure stating, "California's public schools are the center of our communities and school-based health centers are an efficient and effective way to provide critical health services." The legislation establishes the framework for a grant program for school health centers, but does not require implementation until funds are appropriated.
Since 2006, the California School Health Centers Association has worked closely with the Governor’s office to support Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s goal of establishing 500 new school health centers in elementary schools. The California School Health Centers Association will be working hard to identify a funding source to implement the grant program established by the legislation.
This legislation, combined with 2006 legislation to create a state office for California’s school-based health centers, marks the first effort to provide direct state assistance to school-based health centers in California.
For more information, visit www.schoolhealthcenters.org
Massachusetts Educational Policy Summit
The Massachusetts Coalition of School-Based Health Centers convened members of the business, education and health communities to consider how health plays a role in keeping students in school, and to discuss a plan for taking action.
For more information, visit www.mcsbhc.org
School-Based Health Clinic Establishment Act Introduced
The National Assembly on School-Based Health Care succeeded in getting the support of legislators in the House and in the Senate to introduce The School-Based Health Clinic Act of 2007. The legislation will increase the number of school-based health centers and expand their ability to reach more children by providing federal funding.
For more information, visit www.nasbhc.org
2008 National Assembly on School-Based Health Care Convention
The National Assembly hosted its 13th annual convention June 25-28 in Los Angeles, CA. Taking Action against Health Inequities looked at health among communities of color and how school-based health centers can help improve health and quality of life.
For more information, visit www.nasbhc.org
Oregon Steps Up Investments for Kids' Health
Oregon’s school-based health centers saw a tremendous victory when the Oregon Legislature approved the Governor’s Recommended Budget for 2005-07, that maintains core state funding ($2.7 million) for school-based health centers and invests an additional $500,000 to expand school-based health centers to five new counties. This investment is a strong step toward ensuring school-based health center sustainability in the future.
The School-Based Health Care Policy Program grantee in Oregon was instrumental in the process through mobilizing communities to educate policymakers and the general public about the quality health care delivered by SBHCs. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the state’s child and health advocates, including a very successful education day at the Capitol, the support for the expansion of programming was broad and diverse. During the budget process, students traveled from several counties to share with the Governor and legislators how access to health care through school-based health centers helps children and youth succeed in school by keeping them healthy and reducing absenteeism.
Currently Oregon has 43 school-based health centers in 14 counties, including centers in 26 high schools, 9 middle schools and 8 elementary schools. Each year, Oregon SBHCs provide services to approximately 25,000 students. Nearly 3 out of every 4 students --71 percent–- using school-based health center services report that they would not have received health care without the center in their school.
"One of my top priorities is to ensure that all children in Oregon have access to basic health care, and support for school-based health clinics is one strategy that will help us meet this goal," Governor Kulongoski said. "Expanding support for clinics this session is just the first step – my goal is that someday every school in Oregon would have a school-based health center."
For more information on school-based health centers in Oregon visit: www.osbhcn.org or call: (503) 595-8423.
Oregon School-Based Health Care Network Helps to Inform Funding Policy and Strengthen Youth Advocacy
The Oregon School-Based Health Care Network made inroads into informing policymakers and the public on the benefits of school-based health care this year. The Network participated in two events at the state capitol to educate policymakers and raise awareness about school-based health care, and the link between health and learning. The payoff for the children of Oregon came in the form of strong support by Governor Ted Kulongoski, who is advocating for an additional $500,000 in the state budget to expand school-based health care.
The Network is also working on giving voice to the youth school-based health centers serve. Over 100 youth have participated in advocacy events, including meeting legislators and other activities to strengthen their advocacy skills. Groups around the state are forming youth advocacy councils, planning trainings and other events to raise awareness and funds for school-based health care in their communities. In Eugene, youth raised $4,000 for the school-based health centers there and received some additional funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create a school learning center. Their work also netted them some funds for additional leadership training. After they are trained, they plan to recruit youth in the local high schools to advocate for social change.