1 The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools Improving the Health of Elementary School-Aged Children What’s Happening at School? Annual Conference of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Washington DC. March 10, Julia Graham Lear, PhD, Director, Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, School of Public Health and Health Services, The George Washington University.

2 The Health of Elementary School- Aged Children & Schools: Overview Introduction: why schools; what challenges? Promising interventions to improve access and promote healthy behaviors Partnering with parents to optimize benefits from school-based programs Securing MCH goals through school- based initiatives

3 Why Schools? A school “base” enables providers to overcome access barriers for most children. 50 million American children and youth between ages 5 and 17 attend school; 90% attend public schools. Perversely, economic and racial segregation in schools enables targeting services and programs on those populations with greatest unmet need.

4 On-going Questions for School- Based Health Programs Population-targeted practice v. individual-targeted practice? Which services or programs to offer? Prevention? Screening? Diagnosis? Short- term interventions? Long-term services? Whose goals? Are health programs in schools supporting an education agenda or a health agenda?

5 Promising Health Programs in School Programs that increase access to care –School-based health or wellness centers –Mental health services in school –Dental health programs in school Programs that promote healthy behaviors –Physical exercise –nutrition programs

6 Programs that Increase Access to Care: School-Based Health Centers Sponsored by mainstream health care organizations Offer comprehensive range of services Generally require parental consent Work with school health personnel, and Supported by community advisory committees

7 National Survey of State SBHC Initiatives School Year Map reports number of centers by state for school year Data from the 2002 State Survey of SBHCs sponsored by the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools

State Survey: Location of School-Based Health Centers

State Survey: Types of Schools Housing School-Based Health Centers

State Survey: State Policies and Programs to Support SBHCs (N=51) # of states State office provides technical assistance regarding SBHCs 26 State grant programs support SBHCs19 SBHCs eligible for Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursement44 State laws permit nurse practitioners to31 participate as primary care providers under Medicaid managed care

11 Programs that Increase Access to Care: School-Based Mental Health Services Schools may function as de facto mental health system for children & adolescents: 80% provide crisis intervention services; 60% plus have mental health professionals on staff Of children receiving mental health services, 70-80% receive that care in a school setting. Model programs: Dallas ISD, SBHCs, Challenge for MCH: most school-based mental health organized by school system or mental heath agencies

12 The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools Mental Health Service Providers in Schools Funding and space Varied Located at or near schools School Based Health Centers Not always linked to school services, may not reach all needy children Varied May occur on school premises but not during school hours Other Service Provider Options Not linked to other school services, providing as needed does not address issue of lack of services Varied – crisis/ as needed to comprehensive mental health services Social Workers, child psychologists, psychiatrist, crisis counselors School or school district contracts with organization for the provision of services Community Linked Stigma, Time, Program cost Counseling, Interventions for specific mental health issues Social Workers, child psychologists, teachers School or school district hires providers or program Stand Alone Sch Program Time spent on testing, not accessible to all students Special Education Testing, IDEA implementation School Psychologists Hired by school or school district Special Education BarriersServicesProvider TypeSchool Relationship Service Provider Arrangement

13 Programs that Increase Access to Care: School-Based Dental Health Programs Children’s dental needs Tooth decay: one of most common chronic childhood diseases; 5 times more common than asthma. Tooth decay afflicts children in poverty twice as much as their affluent peers; racial disparities are significant. According to the CDC: school-based dental programs could reduce or eliminate racial and income disparities among children with sealants.

14 School-Based Dental Health Programs continued Types of programs Screen and refer Sealants Comprehensive assessment, preventive services and restorations Model programs: DentCare (NY), Hartford Public Schools (CT)

15 School-Based Dental Health Programs continued Key factors in program development –Public & private insurance payments –Scope of practice for dental hygienists –Political dynamics in state dentistry profession

16 PARENTS: A New Focus for Building Stronger School Health Programs At school: Parents historically uninformed about school’s health & safety arrangements and programs In community at large: Increased support for consumer participation in organization of health services Two CHHCS parent initiatives – CHHCS Parent Poll, Spring 2003 –Parents’ Resource Center

17 CHHCS Poll: Parents Speak Out on Health and Health Care in Schools In the field, end of February through early March Responders: parents, with oversampling by income Initial results -- late March; final report late April Sample questions (not exact wording): – In general do you support or oppose providing health care in schools? (Strongly support to strongly oppose) – What services to you think it is important to be provided to kids in school? – Do you think it is important to educate kids about health? Eg. issues like eating right and exercising?

18 The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools  Emotions & Behaviors  Health, General  Nutrition & Fitness  Safety Getting Things Done At School  Keeping Children Safe  Helping Children Stay Healthy Asthma is the most common chronic disorder in children and is a leading cause of disability. Click here to learn more

19 MCH Opportunities to Strengthen Children’s Health through In-School Programs Challenges: State budgets, uncertain politics, unsteady partnerships between health & education Opportunities: –Web initiatives Build an information base for parents and school staff Create and/or support state standards for effective programs –Fund outcomes-focused projects –Don’t ignore politics

20 The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools Contact Information The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools 1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 505 Washington, DC fax