What are Delaware School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs)?

 

• SBHCs, also referred to as school-based wellness centers or student wellness centers, are a type of health care delivery model that provides school-aged youth with comprehensive physical, behavioral, and preventive health services delivered by qualified medical and behavioral health providers in school settings.

Contact Information

 

• Click here for a list of the locations and contact information of the contracted and non-contracted state recognized School-Based Health Centers located throughout Delaware.
• Click here for the list of Medical Sponsors.

Mission

 

• In partnership with schools, families, healthcare providers and community agencies, DHSS, Division of Public Health will facilitate access to comprehensive preventative, primary and mental health care for adolescents in Delaware public high schools.

Vision

 

• Delaware’s children will have quality, integrated school-health services that improve health status, optimize academic achievement, and enhance well-being.

Goals

 

• To reduce the critical health problems of adolescents by ensuring the utilization of comprehensive health services provided by the SBHC.
• To improve the physical health of students by providing age-appropriate medical services through the SBHC.
• To reduce the incidence of high-risk behaviors through health education and risk reduction efforts.
• To reduce the mental health and psychosocial problems of adolescents by improving access to utilization of mental health services provided by the wellness center.
• To ensure coordination with student’s medical home and/or primary care provider.
• To increase number of parental/school involvement in the SBHC and the Center’s care of students.
• To increase community awareness of wellness centers.

Key Points

 

• In Delaware, SBHCs are operated by a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals who use a holistic approach to address a broad range of health and health-related needs of students.
• Through primary prevention and early intervention Delaware SBHCs provide services to various student populations.

Criteria

 

• SBHCs may be funded by state, federal and/or third-party billing funds; through a community partnership; through grant sources; but also require the support of the school with in-kind or actual dollars.
• All service components are reviewed by the local school board or governing entity based on the needs of the student population as identified through a need’s assessment or a statement of need based on school data analyzed specifically for the center.
• SBHCs are not a substitute for the student’s personal physician and/or medical home but rather, act as a source for referral to outside medical care and as points of contact for supportive, comprehensive health services.
• All school-based health centers must receive school board/governing entity approval prior to making application with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health for approval to become a Recognized State SBHC and before implementing such services.
• With school board/governing entity approval the following services may be provided in addition to Item #4 and in accordance with item #6 where applicable:
  • diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
  • limited reproductive health services
  • HIV testing and counseling
• All school-based health centers must receive written parental permission prior to providing medical, mental and nutritional health services to students.
• School records and center records are kept separately to insure confidentiality.

For more information concerning all SBHCs contact the Division of Public Health School-Based Health Center Central Office .

Helpful Links

 

• House Bill 303 which added SBHC to Title 18
• School-Based Health Center Regulations
• Delaware School-Based Health Center Strategic Planning Committee found on the DEThrives.com site
• School-Based Health Center FAQ
• Click here to see a site map of when SBHCs were implemented in Delaware.
• Click here to view a roadmap of when SBHCs were implemented in Delaware.

Application Process to Become a State Recognized School-Based Health Provider

 

Please note: Both supporting documents and supporting documents are required to be submitted together to DHSS _DPH_SBHC@Delaware.gov.

• Organizations that will be providing School-Based Health Center Services will need to fill out and submit the following:
  • Cover Sheet and Attachment A for organizations to provide SBHC Services
  • Attachment B for organizations to provide SBHC Services

 

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