A school-based health center (SBHC) is a student-focused health center or clinic located at or near a school that provides age-appropriate, medical services² by clinicians³. It may also provide behavioral health, dental, optometry, and/or ancillary services (i.e. health education, youth engagement, case management).

A wellness center (WC) means a student-focused center¹ located at or near a school that provides age-appropriate, clinical behavioral health services² by providers⁴. It may also provide non-medical ancillary services.

The American Academy of Pediatrics considers SBHCs to be an important way for students to get access to care and—because they are mostly located in communities with a high proportion of historically disadvantaged populations—an effective way to advance health equity.

¹The center may be a facility or a mobile unit, and must include at least one confidential treatment space appropriate to services provided, as well as an additional area for reception, enrollment, and triage
²Services may be provided in-person or via telehealth
³As defined by HRSA
⁴As defined by California Board of Behavioral Sciences

Photo: La Clínica de La Raza

A Growing Movement

As the statewide nonprofit working to advance school-based health centers, our goal is to grow the number of SBHCs/WCs in California to 500 by 2030.

In 2012, California had 200 SBHCs/WCs; today, there are 400 and counting. Across California, more than 408,000 students attend a school that has a health or wellness center, and many more have access to other types of school health services.

Effectively Delivering Health Care to Young People

SBHCs/WCs put health care where students already spend most of their time – at school. They offer:

• Enhanced access to health care by bringing it directly to where students and families are and conducting active school-based outreach to connect students with care.
• Stronger prevention and population health by connecting clinical care with public health approaches such as group and classroom education, school wide screenings and prevention programs, or efforts to address the social determinants of health.
• Intensive support for the highest need students by being present on a daily basis to manage chronic disease, address behavioral health issues, deal with crises, and help students and families access resources.
• Support for the school’s mission to improve academic achievement by working together to address absenteeism, school climate, and classroom behavior and performance.
• Integration into the health care system by communicating and coordinating care with other providers and payers.

Research has shown, and teachers and educators intuitively know, that healthier children are better students because they are able to focus in class and are not distracted by hunger, pain, stress, or a chronic illness.

Learn more about how SBHCs/WCs in California are serving students and take a virtual tour!