FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C., January 2025 – The School-Based Health Alliance, the national voice for school-based health care, is proud to announce new one-time funding awarded to multiple organizations to support the creation and expansion of close to sixty school-based health centers (SBHCs) across four counties in Connecticut. This initiative will bring vital, culturally sensitive, and age-appropriate healthcare services directly to elementary through high school students in communities statewide, improving access to quality care where it’s needed most.

 Funding for this initiative was made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, which selected the School-Based Health Alliance to manage the grant process and offer training and technical assistance to the recipient organizations.

A competitive review process was used to select the awarded sites from the pool of applications submitted by organizations. The funded SBHC sites will use these funds to establish or expand services such as mental and behavioral health, primary care, outreach, equipment, telehealth, mobile units, dental care, and health promotion/education. This funding opportunity aims to enhance access to health care, including mental health and primary care services, for the SBHC community, ultimately improving service availability for the target population.

Rebecca Kaplan, Director of Clinical Operations & Healthcare Innovation at Norwalk Community Health Center, a recipient of the funds, reflected on the award and stated, "The SBHA 2024-2026 funding has allowed NCHC’s School-Based Health & Wellness Centers to expand our mental health service offerings. The current landscape of youth mental health has demonstrated that there is a gap in access to mental health services, and there is a lack of a safety net for vulnerable populations to follow through with plans of care. This funding will allow us to add a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) as a care coordinator, promote a School-Based Behavioral Health Manager, and add a full-time bi-lingual therapist to our team. The impact of the grant funding will significantly improve access to care and ensure that there are wrap-around services to change the trajectory of students' lives. Healthy minds lead to healthy bodies and improve a student’s ability to learn.”

SBHCs are crucial partnerships between schools and community health organizations, providing essential health care where students spend most of their time – in schools. Parents or guardians must provide consent for their children to receive care, ensuring a collaborative approach to student health.

“We are excited to see this funding supporting school-based health centers across Connecticut,” said Robert Boyd, CEO, School-Based Health Alliance. “By integrating health services directly into schools, we are helping to break down barriers to care, ensuring students receive the culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate care they need to thrive both in the classroom and their communities."

Throughout the funding period, School Based Health Alliance will provide monthly training and technical assistance, collect and review data, oversee and disburse funds, provide resources, and facilitate a learning network among awardees. The consulting team, with decades of combined experience, is committed to supporting these organizations in planning, implementing, operating, evaluating, and continuously improving school-based health care services. Learn more at https://www.sbh4all.org/consulting-services/.