School-Based Health Centers

Investment Summary

K-12 School Health investments provide students with increased access to medical and mental health care through School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs), school nursing, oral health care and health system enhancements. These strategies promote the early intervention, prevention, and treatment of health-related barriers to learning with the goal of promoting school attendance and improved academic performance. SBHCs use evidence-based practices, exercise culturally responsiveness and gender competency, and provide an accessible source of health care.

29 School-Based Health Centers

   

7 Healthcare Providers

17,941 Students Served In SY 2021-22

  

Investment Details

K-12 School Health investments provide students with direct support services and are an important bridge between health and education that promotes school attendance and improved academic performance. Research has consistently demonstrated that physical and mental health concerns are barriers to learning and K-12 School Health investments are designed to promote school attendance, academic performance, and on-time graduation. SBHCs use evidence-based practices, exercise cultural responsiveness and gender competency, and provide a source of quality health care for students that might not otherwise have access to services.

Access to SBHCs is available for all Seattle Public Schools students regardless of the presence of an SBHC on their school campus. While services are universally accessible to all SPS students, outreach and referrals for services are focused on students with the greatest need such as those experiencing non-academic barriers to learning, students not yet meeting grade-level learning standards, students less likely to access care in the community, and other historically underserved student groups, including students experiencing homelessness and LGBTQ students.

Key elements of SBHCs include:

  • Increased access and utilization of preventive care (family planning, well-child exams, and immunizations)
  • Comprehensive primary and acute health care assessment, diagnosis, treatment and referral
  • Mobile and school-based dental and oral health services
  • Age-appropriate reproductive health care
  • Sexually transmitted disease screening and treatment
  • Mental health screening, counseling, treatment and referral
  • School-wide and targeted health education and health promotion
  • Information and assistance to eligible students' families about how to access and enroll in health insurance programs
  • Intensive interventions to support school success
  • Coordination among school-based staff and community partners on student health, academics, and integration with other levy-funded strategies
  • Coordination with school nurses and the Seattle School District nursing program
  • Access to and participation in a support network advancing professional learning, service delivery, and other systems-level improvements
     


Partnering for Student Health

Seattle Public HealthDEEL partners with Public Health - Seattle & King County (PHSKC) to administer School-Based Health Centers. PHSKC's role includes managing SBHC contracts with healthcare providers, overseeing Request for Application processes, and providing direct services at three SBHCs within Seattle Public Schools (Cleveland, Ingraham, and Rainier Beach high schools).

Health Care Sponsor

Elementary School

Middle School

High School

Neighborcare Health Bailey Gatzert  
Dearborn Park
Highland Park
Roxhill
Rising Star
West Seattle 
Madison
Mercer
Robert Eagle Staff
Chief Sealth 
Lincoln
Roosevelt
West Seattle 
Odessa Brown Children's Clinic, a clinic of Seattle Children's Hospital Beacon Hill International
Lowell
Garfield
Kaiser Permanente Aki Kurose
Washington
Franklin
Interagency Academy
Nathan Hale
Country Doctor Community Health Meany Nova
International Community Health Services Seattle World School
Public Health - Seattle & King County Denny International Cleveland
Ingraham
Rainier Beach
Swedish Medical Center Ballard High School



Partner Spotlight

"Having access to medical, dental, and mental health services in the place where they spend most of their time is incredibly important, especially for students without insurance. Moreover, the wraparound services SBHCs provide give an example of how our health care system should function."
--Katharine Rossitch, DDS Neighborcare Health, Multiple SBHC sites

Katherine Rosstitch, DDS Neighborcare Health Katherine Rosstitch, DDS Neighborcare Health

Education and Early Learning

Dwane Chappelle, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 1700, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 94665, Seattle, WA, 98124-6965
Phone: (206) 233-5118
Phone Alt: Childcare and Preschool: (206) 386-1050
Fax: (206) 386-1900
education@seattle.gov

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