Why School-Based Health Programs Matter
Health and education can have a powerful impact when they intersect on behalf of children and adolescents. When health care providers and educators collaborate, students benefit.
School health services play a critical role in ensuring that children and youth have access to high-quality, affordable health care. By providing care for physical, behavioral, oral, and eye health and youth development services on school campuses, school-based health programs positively impact students’ health and learning. They address a wide variety of health needs, from asthma management to flu vaccination to teen pregnancy prevention. At the same time, school-based health care staff and other school health personnel can act as key partners in efforts to address chronic absenteeism and promote a positive school climate.
The school-based health care model improves access to quality health care for ALL children, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or zip code. It augments achievement and success for youth throughout Missouri.
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School-Based Health Advances Equity
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Thank you to the UMSL Neighborhood Leadership Fellows for creating this video to share the benefits and impact of school-based health programs as well as to advocate to overcome the challenges faced in securing sustainable funding for start-up and operations.
The video expands upon the identified need for school-based health centers (SBHCs) in the St. Louis region, which was prioritized as one model for improving health equity as part of the For the Sake of All report.