Healthy Children, Schools and Communities

 

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SBHC Staff Testimonials

“SBHC services during a pandemic has definitely been a major transition. One, that I think we took it in stride and was able to continue great work through the use of telehealth. Our mental health division was able to transition to telehealth a week and medical shortly after.”​

-Tiffany Watson-Labbate, Behavioral Health Supervisor

SBHC Staff Testimonials

“The SBHC functioned as a family with everyone having their piece of the puzzle to function. The most important thing was to keep the connection between the staff, faculty, students & parents. This was done through regular meetings with the SBHC staff and the school… The pandemic showed the strengths and flexibility of the staff to adapt to the change.”​

-Jeannine Brooks, Nurse Practitioner

SBHC Staff Testimonials

“We’ve been trying to accommodate our kids as much as possible in the safest way possible during the pandemic. Meeting up with the kids and being able to give them a service that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to get during this crisis – that was really a highlight for us.”​

-Jalissa Vargas, Nurse and Health Educator

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Latest News & Events

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NYSBHA SBHC Conference 3-27 & 3/28: SBHCs & The Power of Our Voice!

Thursday March 27 & Friday March 28th Embassy Suites Saratoga Springs  Join us for our annual school-based healthcare education event, SBHCs & The Power of Our Voice! This year’s conference will be an in-person event at the Embassy Suites in the historic and...

Commentary: This administrative change would hurt children’s health care access

Times Union Opinion School-based health centers shouldn't move to Medicaid managed care. It will hurt care and increase costs. By Amy Paulin and Gustavo Rivera March 12, 2025 Credit: Getty Images. sturti/Getty Images In less than 30 days, school-based health centers...

Migrant pupils need more targeted mental health support in school, study says

PHYS ORG By University of Exeter | December 2, 2024 A study highlights the need for improved accessibility to school-based mental health support for migrant children, addressing their unique strengths and challenges. Researchers found a lack of targeted interventions...

Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy

MORRIS HEIGHTS HEALTH CENTER By Dr Sophia DeCambre Morriseau | December 16th, 2024 Vaccines are a critical tool for protecting children from serious illnesses like measles, whooping cough, polio, and HPV-related cancers. While these diseases have become less common...

The Governor must preserve and protect the State’s school-based health centers

EMPIRE REPORT By Stephen Marshall | November 19, 2024 The Governor must preserve and protect the State’s more than 250 school-based health centers (SBHCs) which provide essential health, mental health, dental and reproductive healthcare services through a highly...

State DOH/OHIP Announce Plan to Transition SBHCs into Medicaid Managed Care 4/1/25

NYSBHA sends letter to the Governor, Senator Rivera issues press release in opposition of transition plan Friday, September 20th, SBHCs received emails from their DOH program managers with a message from OHIP announcing a plan to transition SBHCs into the State's...

HANYS Spotlight: Bassett Healthcare Network ensures healthcare access for school children

In rural central New York, many children live at or below the poverty level in communities where healthcare is not available. Children are among those least likely to receive routine healthcare and be insured, and most likely to require emergency medical services....

Research Notes: In-School Health Centers Reduce Suspensions

  FutureEd Elena Koshkin Jan 2024 A solid body of research has already established that school-based health centers increase access to care. Recent research has refined that understanding to show the presence of a school-based health center is associated with...

NIH-funded initiative to study health disparities among rural youth in NY: SBHCs a “Promising Solution”

Cornell Chronicle By Kelly Merchan January 9, 2024 Access to healthcare among low-income rural youth stands as a pressing concern in the landscape of public health in rural New York. School-Based Health Centers (SBHC) have emerged as a promising solution to enhance...

Students speak on Gov. Hochul’s efforts to protect mental health of youth

WKBW 7 Buffalo Yoselin Person 1/9/24 BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — During the State of the State address on Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced initiatives aimed at helping children and teenagers struggling with their mental health. Some measures include establishing...

Our Mission

Our mission is to create access to comprehensive, high-quality primary care, including medical, mental, oral, and community health services, for all children and youth statewide through SBHCs. The Alliance achieves this by advocating for policies that promote the sustainability of SBHCs; promoting the delivery of high-quality services; raising awareness of the school-based health model; and promoting the growth and expansion of SBHCs. We have been very successful in executing our mission; today, more than 200,000 children in the state have access to school-based health services, and nearly 169,000 are enrolled in their SBHC.

Goals of a School-Based Health Center

 

Support the School

The SBHC is built upon mutual respect and collaboration between the school and the health provider to promote the health and educational success of school-aged children.

Implements Effective Systems

Administrative and clinical systems are designed to support effective delivery of services incorporating accountability mechanisms and performance improvement practices.

Focus on the Student

Services involve students as responsible participants in their health care, encourage the role of parents and other family members, and are accessible, confidential, culturally sensitive, and developmentally appropriate.

Delivers Comprehensive Care

An interdisciplinary team provides access to high quality comprehensive physical and mental health services emphasizing prevention and early intervention.

Support the Community

The SBHC is developed and operates based on continual assessment of local assets and needs.

Advances Health Promotion Activities

he SBHC takes advantage of its location to advance effective health promotion activities to students and community.

Provides Leadership in Adolescent and Child Health

The SBHC model provides unique opportunities to increase expertise in adolescent and child health, and to inform and influence policy and practice.