School-based health centers and rural community health

Abstract

ABSTRACT School-based health centers (SBHCs) provide comprehensive health care services to children through facilities that are located directly within their school. Although traditionally located in low-income urban communities, SBHCs are becoming more prevalent in rural schools, and we propose that they may have important positive impacts in those communities. By reducing distance to care providers, capitalizing on the role of schools as a known local institution, providing consistent preventive care, and leveraging understanding of community challenges in providing health care services, SBHCs can increase health care access and positively impact social determinants of health. They may also contribute to community development if establishing and maintaining the SBHCs community activates community capitals and enhances resource sharing, communication and relationship building. We expand on these ideas by providing a case study of SBHC development and outcomes using data from a not-for-profit healthcare organization that operates a network of SBHCs in four adjacent rural counties of New York state.