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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS
Why are school-based health center needed?
Research is clear that healthy students learn better and have better attendance. Students can’t learn if they are not in class. The goal is to provide access to health care so that all students receive the medical and mental health care they need to stay healthy and in school. Many students do not have health insurance and subsequently do not receive adequate health care. Access to health care is a big issue even for those who do have health insurance. It’s difficult for many parents to get time off work to take their children to medical appointments.
Where did the idea of school-based health centers for Washington County School Districts originate?
The Washington County Commission on Children and Families brought together over two dozen partners after county school superintendents declared health care is a critical need in their districts. The area’s major hospital systems -- including Tuality Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health Systems and Providence Health and Services, as well as Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center – has had a role in planning and funding school-based health centers in the county. These include the one that opened in April at Tigard High School and ones that are planned in Forest Grove, Beaverton and Hillsboro.
Who would the centers serve?
The primary focus would be the high school students. However, the community may choose to have the centers be open to all students in the District. It would be up to parents to transport their children to the center for treatment.
Who would run the centers?
The centers would be operated by a medical provider already operating in the community. While the centers are most often located on school district property, the medical provider would assume all liability for the operation of the center. A community mental health provider would provide mental health services at the center as a subcontractor of the medical provider.
What services would the school-based health center offer?
The centers could provide a variety of services depending upon input from the community. Those services include: routine physical exams, immunizations, diagnosing and treating illnesses and minor injuries, managing chronic conditions (i.e., allergies, asthma, diabetes, seizures), mental health assessment and services, vision, dental and blood pressure screenings, health and nutrition education, and age and developmentally-appropriate services (i.e. abstinence counseling, reproductive health exams and sexually transmitted infection tests).
How are centers staffed?
The centers could be staffed by a nurse practitioner, a licensed mental health counselor and an office assistant. The staff would be employees of the medical and mental health providers.
Would the centers dispense contraceptives?
That decision would be made by a Steering Committee composed of parents, students, staff and representatives of the faith and medical communities. Their recommendation would be put to the School Board, and the Board would make the final decision.
How would the centers be funded?
The centers are usually funded initially by grants, with a plan to be financially self-sustaining by the end of a pre-determined period through billing private insurance and the Oregon Health Plan.
Do school districts incur any cost for the center?
The district’s contribution is typically with in-kind contributions -- the the same type of in-kind contributions that districts often make to other programs that are housed in district buildings. Some examples are providing the site for the center, custodial service, utilities and computers.
Would the districts be financially liable for students who can’t pay for medical service?
No, the medical provider assumes all financial liability for the operation of the center. If a student has no medical insurance, the district is not responsible for paying for his or her treatment. The medical provider has that liability.
Would the center be competing with local medical providers?
No. The expectation is that students who already have a family doctor will continue to see their own doctor on an on-going basis. But experience around the state shows that insured students will access the health center for immediate medical needs rather than miss classes or be absent from school.
Would students need parental permission or notification to access the health center?
Oregon law allows anyone age 15 and older to seek medical help without parental permission. That is true of any health facility, not just a school based health center. But staff of the health center would encourage students to communicate with their parents about health care they received at the center. It's recommended that the district and medical provider develop policies that encourage parental involvement and communication about their children’s health care, within the limits of Oregon law.
What happens to the building if the school-based health center ever has to discontinue operating?
That would be up to the terms of the grant that would fund construction of the building. There may be a whole gamut of uses that would be allowed, but the district would need to go to the grant program to ask permission for a change of use.
Which districts have school-based health centers?
Tigard High School opened its school-based health center in April 2008. Beaverton School District has had a school-based health center at its Merlo Station alternative school for about 10 years. Portland Public Schools have had school-based health centers for over 20 years. In all, there are 46 school-based health centers in Oregon, and planning is underway for another 17. The Oregon Legislature allocated $2 million in 2008 to help with planning and start-up costs for the new centers, plus appropriate $3 million to support the state’s existing centers.
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