School-based health centers (SBHCs) are spread from Del Norte to San Diego County with large concentrations in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. See a list by county.

SBHCs tend to be located in schools with low-income Latino and African American students. Youth in these ethnic groups are more likely to have higher rates of violent injury, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, use of certain substances, and sexually risky behavior.

They are also less likely to have health insurance or access to health and mental health services that address these risk factors. Without such services, childhood risk factors are more likely to be translated into higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses in adulthood as well as more struggles with academic success.

• Of California’s 293 school health centers, 39% are in high schools, 21% are in elementary schools, 10% are in middle schools, and 25% are “school linked” or mobile medical vans.
• Many SBHCs are located in schools serving some of the state’s most vulnerable children. On campuses with SBHCs, about 70% of students receive free or reduced price meals.

Most of California’s SBHCs are physically located right on campus within a main building or in a portable. In some areas, health services are provided by mobile medical or dental vans, and in other areas, “school-linked” health centers are off campus and have formal operating agreements with schools.

View a map (PDF) of SBHCs and where they are located in California by county.

See a list of California’s SBHCs with information on how to contact them.