Funds awarded to SBHCs through health care reform

More than $14 million was awarded this week to 45 school-based health centers, which increases by nearly 50% the number of children served by these facilities, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

School-based health centers (SBHCs) currently provide care for 112,000 children. The new funds are intended to expand the capacity and modernize the facilities, which will allow them to treat an estimated additional 53,000 children in 29 states, according to a press release from HHS.

“Children are the foundation upon which this country will grow,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in the release. “The Affordable Care Act will help ensure our children get the high-quality health care they need and deserve.”

SBHCs enable children with acute or chronic illnesses to attend school and improve the overall health and wellness of all children through health screenings, health promotion and disease prevention activities. These facilities also provide a combination of primary care, mental health care, substance abuse counseling, case management, dental health, nutrition education, health education and health promotion activities.

The Affordable Care Act is slated to provide $200 million by 2013 for the School-Based Health Center Capital Program to address capital needs and to improve delivery and support expansion of services at SBHCs.

A full list of SBHC grantees is available at www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/12/20111208a_grantees.html.

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