For Immediate Release                                                                    Contact:
Tuesday, January 16, 2018                                                              Sarah Murphy
                                                                                                           518 464-3423
                                                                                                           nysbha@gmail.com

The New York School-Based Health Alliance Applauds Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for Providing Level Funding for School-Based Health Centers

January 16, 2018, Albany, N.Y. The New York School-Based Health Alliance and its 250 School-Based Health Centers applaud Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for providing level State funding of over $15 million for School-Based Health Centers in his 2018-19 proposed State Budget.

School-Based Health Centers provide more than 230,000 students-mostly low-income, Black and Latino- with comprehensive primary and preventive medical care, reproductive health care, dental, vision, nutrition counseling, management of chronic diseases, and mental health services on-site in schools at no out-of-pocket cost. The services are provided to underserved children and adolescents on-site in schools in rural, urban and suburban areas of the State.

“I see firsthand every day how School-Based Health Centers help students. They provide care to children who have the greatest health care needs but are much less likely to have access to care.   They are safety-net providers for children who are undocumented and/or uninsured and are a critical point of care for immigrant children. The physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and social workers and others who work at the centers are able to provide on the spot care that improves students’ health and their ability to learn” said Sarah Murphy, Executive Director of the Alliance.

Governor Cuomo has been a champion for underserved children from the start, including the importance of SBHCs in his 2010 New York State Urban Agenda.  With today’s budget release, Governor Cuomo has once again shown his commitment to the health of New York State’s children. The School-Based Health Alliance looks forward to continued cooperation with Governor Cuomo to sustain children’s physical and mental health and the future of the State’s School Based Health Centers.

——