Special Opportunity: School-Based Health Care
Overview
How to Apply and Deadlines
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Overview
School-based health care is an effective strategy for reaching underserved students. Studies show school-based health care positively impacts students in many areas including:
- Reduced absenteeism
- Increased access to preventive and mental health care
- Increased care coordination and referral completion
- Reduced costs for Medicaid programs
- Reduced emergency and urgent care visits
- Increased health knowledge among students
Recognizing the important role these programs play in the health and wellness of Colorado’s children, the Colorado Health Foundation launched a $10.8 million initiative in June 2009 to support school-based health care in communities throughout Colorado.
The initiative will support the planning and implementation of more than 20 new school-based health programs over the next four years. Based on the number of students currently served by the 45 existing school-based health centers in Colorado, it is estimated that these new programs will serve an additional 15,000 students each year.
Funding may be used to support the development of new school-based health centers and/or the integration of mental or dental health services into existing school-based health centers. In some cases, the initiative may support the development of mental and/or dental health services that are not part of a comprehensive school-based health center but that are coordinated with other community-based primary care services.