Although limited, some state and federal educational funds can be used to support school health services. Many SBHCs provide services–such as case management, teacher consultation, and youth development–for which they cannot bill insurance carriers, and educational funds can be a critical supplement to reimbursement revenues.
Schools can use existing funding to support school health services. For example, districts can choose to use a portion of their Title I-A or LEA Medi-Cal dollars to support school health services. In addition, school districts can apply for competitive grant funding to enhance their current resources. Educators and others who support school health services should both seek new funding and urge decision-makers to direct existing funding to health services.
The opportunities listed below can be used to support school health services. This document (updated August 2010) describes what each is, explains how to access the funding, and provides links to relevant websites.
Finally, to stay updated on school health center funding opportunities, you can:
- Visit CSHC’s Grants with Deadlines and Grants without Deadlines webpages.
- Join the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care and access funding links.
- Visit the Grants Alerts section of the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools website.
- Visit the California Department of Education’s Available Funding webpage.
- Visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Grants Page and Forecast of Funding Opportunities.
Academically-Focused Opportunities
- Title I-A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers/Title IV-B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
- After School Education and Safety Program
- High School Graduation Initiative
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
- Foster Youth Services
Broadly-Focused Opportunities
- Safe and Supportive Schools
- Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program
- Promise Neighborhoods Initiative
- First 5
Health-/Mental Health-Focused Opportunities
- Local Educational Agency (LEA) Medi-Cal Billing
- Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA)
- Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program
- Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems
- Early Mental Health Initiative
- Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse
Safety-Focused Opportunities
- School Community Violence Prevention Program
- School Safety and Violence Prevention Act Grants
