SchoolBased Health Centers SBHCs House Study Committee on
School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) House Study Committee on Health, Education and School Based Health Centers 2015 Voices for Georgia’s Children
School-Based Health Centers Overview Need Outcomes 1
Overview of SBHCs Definition SBHCs are primary care centers within schools that blend medical care with behavioral health and psychosocial services in order to promote the health and educational success of school-aged children and adolescents 2
Overview of SBHCs Preventative, Routine, Acute and Monitoring Services • Diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness and minor injuries • Asthma treatment and monitoring • Wellness checks and routine physicals • Health screenings (Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis & Treatment) • Immunization and flu vaccines • Mental and behavioral health counseling • Parent and family counseling • Specialist and community referrals 3
Overview of SBHCs Current Scope: National and Georgia 9 SBHCs in Georgia serving 5, 000 students, staff and families; 63 tele-health sites (GPTH) 2, 000 SBHCs in 44 states and the District of Columbia Whitefoord Community Program (2 SBHCs) Berrien County Med Clinic Ware County School System Tiger Creek Elementary Turner Elementary Lake Forest Elementary Johnson County Elementary North Clayton County High School 4
Overview of SBHCs Students, Families and the Community Benefit 60% 40% 50. 7% 37. 4% 37. 1% 33. 1% 18. 9% 20% 0% Students from Family of Faculty/school Out-of-school other schools student users personnel youth 5 Other community members
Overview of SBHCs Start Up and Sustainable Funding Opportunities Service Revenue Sponsorships Partner Contributions State Funds & Government Grants • 85% of SBHCs bill for visits nationally • Medicaid, CHIP, private insurance, self-pay • Associated administrative costs are billable • 33% by community health organizations (Federally Qualified Health Centers) • Most in Georgia are FQHC sponsored • In-Kind support for operations from schools and hospitals • State and National Foundations • 18 states have dedicated funds in their budget • State, federal, and local grants 6
Need for SBHCs Child Health in Georgia • • Georgia ranks 42 nd nationally in child well-being 52% have a medical home 65% had a medical or dental preventive care visit 53% with emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems received mental health care 7
Need for SBHCs Access to Healthcare in Georgia 44 th in rate of uninsured children 39 th in Doctors per 100, 00 45 th in access to mental health care • Nearly 200, 000 children are uninsured in Georgia • • 63 counties have no pediatrician 6 have no family medicine physician 31 have no internal medicine physician 79 have no OB/GYN • 1: 1, 440 ratio of mental health worker to citizen • 750 School Psychologists – ratio of 1: 2, 475 (1: 1, 000) • 620 School Social Workers – ratio of 1: 2, 742(1: 250) 8
Need for SBHCs Health Impacts Education Outcomes • Approximately 320, 000 students miss 10 days each year due to illness in Georgia – For many children with a mental illness, that number can be as high as 18 to 22 days missed • Asthma and Oral Health are the leading causes of absenteeism – Absenteeism linked to being retained in 3 rd grade – Being retained in 3 rd grade linked to not graduating • Negative health effects are amplified for children living in poverty 9
Outcomes of SBHCs Health • Decreased: – Hospitalization due to asthma – Inappropriate use of emergency departments – Prescription Drug Use • Increased: – Use of primary care – Use of peak flow meters and inhalers (for asthma) – Use of mental health services – Access to healthcare 10
Outcomes of SBHCs Educational • Decreased: – Tardiness – Loss of seat time • Increased: – Attendance – Lake Forest Site – 50% of students referred to SBHC returned to class – Perception of school engagement, expectations, and safety – Grade Point Average 11
Outcomes of SBHCs Cost-Savings • Reduction of Medicaid expenditures attributed to: – Inpatient hospitalization, prescription drug, and emergency department use • Whitefoord Site – 50% reduction in Medicaid cost per child for those with access to SBHC • Atlanta, GA – Medicaid enrolled students had lower: – Drug and emergency department expenses – $898. 98 vs. $2, 360. 46 in yearly expenses 12
Linking School-Based Access to the Larger Whole SBHCs Provide a Natural Link for Sustaining Child Health and Academic Outcomes Academic Success Improved Health Access to Healthcare 13
Thank You! For more info: Erica Fener Sitkoff – Policy & Outreach Director efenersitkoff@georgiavoices. org Polly Mc. Kinney – Advocacy Director pmckinney@georgiavoices. org www. georgiavoices. org
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