A hot topic this school year (and every school year) is attendance. How do we eliminate barriers that keep students from coming to, and staying in, school? While it is important to look for the low-hanging-fruit solutions we can enact tomorrow, in parallel we must ask ourselves what will benefit students three, five, even ten years from now? One of the answers is School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs).

Data from the Journal of Adolescent Health shows that schools with SBHCs report higher attendance rates over time, especially for students with mental health diagnoses. Additionally, the convenience of healthcare on site increases seat time. Instead of taking a full or half-day off school for well-child visits, students can see a provider on campus. Other barriers like transportation to appointments or caregivers missing work are eliminated. Aside from attendance, schools with SBHCs see higher graduation rates, increased average GPAs, and decreased school disciplinary actions and suspensions. Governor DeWine has promised state dollars to help establish SBHCs across Ohio in the upcoming budget. There has never been a better time to explore how a School-Based Health Center could benefit your district and Ohio’s youth! 

The Ohio School-Based Health Alliance (OSBHA) is the only non-partisan, statewide organization created to advance and support the sustainability and expansion of school-based health care to reduce disparities and improve health and education outcomes for Ohio’s students, their families, and communities. The OSBHA strengthens school-based health infrastructure through capacity building, policy transformation, and data tracking and evaluation. The OSBHA will be launching a free SBHC Startup Toolkit within the upcoming year to assist districts and health operators in their foundational stages of exploration and establishment of a school-based health center. For more resources, visit the OSBHA’s website, osbha.com. 

To learn about the first steps toward a School-Based Health Center, contact Maddy at [email protected].