Making schools healthy

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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

COVID-19, SBHCs and Schools

 

NYSBHA’s task force created a guide for schools with SBHCs during COVID-19

Latest News & Events

Keep up to date with Alliance Advocacy Alerts and state & national news by signing up for our e-newsletter

 

Children’s Aid NYC National Nurses Month Spotlight: Caitlin Griffin

When Caitlin Griffin started searching for jobs in New York City, she knew she wanted to take her career in a new direction. She started reaching New York City nonprofits and came across Children’s Aid. “I looked at the website,” she said, “and I thought it would be...

Governor Hochul Announces First Recipients of $4M Mental Health Scholarship Program

For Immediate Release: 4/11/2023 GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES FIRST RECIPIENTS OF THE $4 MILLION MENTAL HEALTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Funding Will Increase Retention and Completion Rates of Underrepresented Undergraduate and Graduate Students in the Mental Health Field ...

New York SBHA conference highlights engagement, data innovations

Blog Post 3/22/23 Link to original post    New York SBHA conference highlights engagement, data innovations Two of our staff members had the pleasure of attending the New York School-Based Health Alliance annual conference in Cooperstown, New York, on March 17 –...

Advocates, students and educators call for ban on flavored tobacco products in New York

CNY Central by Emma Misiasze Mon, March 13th 2023 ALBANY, N.Y. — Students, educators and parents joined together Monday to call on state lawmakers to end the sale of flavored tobacco in New York and increase the state’s cigarette tax by $1. Members of the NYS PTA, NYS...

Bassett Valentine’s Soirée Raises More Than $250,000 for School-Based Health

'This year’s Soirée paid tribute to two individuals who have been key to the 30-year-long success of Bassett’s School-Based Health Program – Chris Kjolhede, MD, MPH, Bassett pediatrician and program co-director, and Jane V. Hamilton, RN, practice manager. They have a...

NYS Expires Health Emergency Face Covering Mandate

Updated guidance released requires Article 28 facilities to develop their own policies based on CDC mask guidance. See links below. Per the memo: "Facilities or entities regulated under Articles 28, 36, and 40 should develop and implement policies for personnel and...

North Country FHC Celebrates SBHC Awareness Month

April Fallon from North Country Family Health Center and Heather Lupia, the Administrator for School-Based Health Centers speak to ABC50's Ask the Expert about the importance of School-Based Health Center Awareness Month and resources available in North Country...

Montefiore gets $4.5M to invest in school behavioral health programs

Crains Health Pulse New York The Montefiore Health System’s school health program will get $4.5 million for behavioral health programs this year, thanks to funding secured by New York leadership in Congress, Montefiore has announced. The support is part of a federal...

Telemedicine Could Help Keep Kids in Class

After telemedicine was implemented, the researchers found that students in grades 3-8 who had access to telemedicine at school missed on average 10 percent fewer days of school (.8 days in a typical school year) and were 29 percent less likely to become chronically...

NYC Nurses Go on strike at Mount Sinai and Montefiore Hospitals

More than 7,000 nurses at two hospitals in New York City went on strike early Monday, forcing the health centers into a frantic flurry to move patients, divert ambulances and scale back other services, including their school-based health centers (sbhcs). After failing...

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.