What is a School Based Health Center?

School Based Health Centers (SBHC) are primary care centers inside schools. SBHCs are not the school nurse's office and provide a higher level of care similar to a child's regular primary care office. Although they work closely with the school nurse and other school staff SBHCs are an independent and separate health centers that are often staffed by a variety of providers including medical, behavioral health and community health workers. 

SBHCs provide primary care, mental health, care coordination, dental, and a safe place for children and their families to find an accessible medical home. This allows families access to physicals, sick visits, therapy, and social outreach that they may not otherwise have the time or resources to obtain.