Building Missouri’s School-Based Health Infrastructure
Every child deserves access to high-quality healthcare regardless of where they live.
The Show-Me School-Based Health Alliance (SMSBHA) is Missouri’s statewide organization dedicated exclusively to strengthening school-based healthcare as an essential component of the state’s healthcare delivery system. As Missouri’s affiliate of the National School-Based Health Alliance, we work at the intersection of healthcare, education, public policy, and community development to ensure children receive timely access to primary care, behavioral health, preventive services, and care coordination where they spend most of their day—in school.
Our work extends far beyond supporting individual school-based health centers.
We are in the process of building the statewide infrastructure that allows high-quality school-based healthcare to expand, improve, and remain sustainable throughout Missouri.
Today, SMSBHA is leading several transformational initiatives that together create one of the nation’s most comprehensive state strategies for school-based healthcare.
These include:
- Missouri School-Based Health Clinic Accreditation Program
The first statewide quality improvement and accreditation system designed specifically for Missouri School-Based Health Clinics, creating common standards, measurable outcomes, and continuous quality improvement.
- Missouri School-Based Health Infrastructure Inventory
A statewide GIS-enabled planning resource documenting school-based healthcare capacity, provider partnerships, and service gaps across Missouri to support strategic investment and Rural Health Transformation planning.
- Closed Loop Referral and Care Coordination Platform
Technology that securely connects schools, healthcare providers, and community partners while maintaining compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, and Missouri privacy requirements.
- Community Implementation Support
Technical assistance helping communities develop sustainable school-based health centers through planning, partnership development, workforce support, operational design, and financial sustainability.
Together, these initiatives create the foundation for a statewide system capable of improving access to care, strengthening healthcare quality, reducing disparities, supporting Medicaid transformation, and improving educational outcomes for children throughout Missouri.
We believe school-based healthcare is not simply another healthcare program—it is critical public infrastructure.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss how your organization can partner with SMSBHA to build a healthier future for Missouri’s children and communities.