The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools

The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS), located within the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, is a nonpartisan policy analysis and program-development research center that builds on a 25-year history of testing strategies to strengthen school-connected health care delivery systems for children and adolescents.[1][2]

History

Since the early 1980s, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and other partners, CHHCS has developed model interventions and technical assistance resources to support the development of school-connected prevention and care programs for students in K–12 schools.[3] In its earlier work CHHCS was known as the School-Based Adolescent Health Care Program National Program Office (1987–1992) and the Making the Grade National Program Office (1993–2000).[4]

Mission

CHHCS’s mission is to strengthen the well-being of children and youth through effective health programs and services in schools. In addition to developing new models for school-connected programs, CHHCS explores organizational and financing challenges associated with taking programs to scale.

Research Interests

School-based Health Centers: Quality improvement and financing strategies to sustain and expand School-Based Health Centers,[5] in addition to providing practical resources to school-based health centers directly.[6]

School Behavioral and Mental Health: Program development, sustainability and quality improvement; associations between social emotional learning and education success.

School Health-Education Partnerships: Identifying strategies to build support at the state and federal levels for early intervention programs at school.

School Health Services and Health Care Reform: Examining the role of school health programs in a universal health care environment.[7][8]

School Nursing: Role in management of chronically ill children.

Children’s Oral Health: Developing school-connected preventive and treatment services for underserved populations.

Vulnerable Populations: Increasing access to care through school health programs for high need populations, including children from low-income families, immigrant and refugee children, and children from communities burdened by health and other disparities.[9]

Consulting

CHHCS provides technical assistance and other analytical services to a variety of public and private agencies in support of continued development of school-based health programs. Projects include advising state foundations on challenges and opportunities for school-based health centers under health care reform, technical assistance to schools across the country in the support of school-based health centers or initiatives,[10] and assessing options for expanding school nurse programs. CHHCS has also been a part of the process for assessing financial and state policy data on school-based health centers across the country.[11]

Publications

CHHCS research papers are published in peer-reviewed journals as well as posted as reports to the CHHCS web site.[12] The Weekly Insider, provides information on grant opportunities, school health news, resources, and upcoming meetings.

Current Initiatives

Social-emotional learning at school and the intersection between state and federal policies and local programs; children’s oral health and options for school-based care; health care reform and school-based care; chronic-disease management and school health services.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools.". The George Washington University. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  2. ↑ "The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools: CHHCS". The Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  3. ↑ "The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools: An RWJF National Program". Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  4. ↑ Brodeur, P. (2002). School-based health clinics. In S.I. Isaacs & J.R. Knickman (Eds.), To improve health and health care. Vol III. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Retrieved January 28, 2012 from http://www.rwjf.org/files/publications/books/2000/chapter_01.html
  5. ↑ Lear, J.G. (2007). Health at school: A hidden health care system emerges from the shadows. Health Affairs, 26, 409-419.
  6. ↑ "Center for Health and Health Care in Schools". Seattle School Based Health Centers. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  7. ↑ Lear, J.G., Barnwell, E. A., & Behrens, D. (2008). Health-care reform and school-based health care. Public Health Reports, 123, 704-708.
  8. ↑ "Taking healthcare to students: Clinics at schools are becoming a key part of the nation's medical safety net.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  9. ↑ DeAngelis, T. (2010). Found in translation. American Psychological Association, 41, 52.
  10. ↑ "To Boost Learning, Start With Emotional Health". Education Week. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  11. ↑ Schlitt, J.J., Juszczak, L. J, & Eichner, N. H. (2008). Current status of state policies that support school-based health centers. Public Health Reports, 123, 731-738.
  12. ↑ Behrens, D. & Lear, J.G. (2011). Strengthening children's oral health: Views from the field. Health Affairs, 30, 2208-2213.

External links