Delaware News

Governor Signs Legislation to Expand School-based Health Centers

Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2016



Wilmington, DE – At a signing ceremony today at Conrad Schools of Science near Wilmington, Governor Markell signed House Bill 234 which ensures that school-based health centers are established in every Delaware secondary public school.

Over the past three decades, most Delaware public high schools have created on-site health centers and today more than 21,000 students are enrolled in 29 schools that feature these in-house facilities which provide links to preventive care, early detection of chronic conditions, and diagnosis and treatment of minor and acute illnesses.

“School-based health centers are about creating links between students and healthcare resources in our community, and by supporting the physical and behavioral healthcare needs of our students they’re creating opportunities for all young people to meet their full potential in life,” Governor Markell said. “I’m proud to sign this legislation, which affirms the value of these facilities and ensures that they are available throughout all of our communities.”

School-based health centers are operated under the auspices of the state’s Division of Public Health and are staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals who use a holistic approach to address a broad range of physical and mental health issues, and health-related needs of students.

School-based health centers are not designed to serve as a primary care provider, but instead to coordinate care between students and their primary care provider, and to increase access to services. They are accessible resources for students who are experiencing depression and anxiety, or are facing bullying behavior, and have proven effective at improving communications with parents, reducing the burden of chronic medical conditions, providing mental health supports, and improving academic performance and school attendance.

“School-based health centers provide an array of important services to meet the needs of Delaware public school students,” said Rep. Kim Williams, the lead sponsor of HB 234. “The centers can provide early detection of emotional stress and chronic conditions, promote on-going comprehensive health care of students, provide preventative care and encourage parent involvement in the health of their children. This law will ensure that all children attending Delaware public high schools will have the same access to essential services.”

The top services provided by school-based health centers are:
o Sport Physicals
o Behavioral Health Counseling
o Primary Prevention and Early Invention
o Health Education
o Information and Referral

“School-based health centers offer a variety of services and supports to help both the student and the family,” said Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf. “From care as simple as immunizations, to helping students who are depressed, anxious or being bullied to learn strategies to manage situations in a healthy way, the health centers offer direct services and important links with primary care providers.”

“School wellness centers have a powerful impact on our students’ health and student achievement and I am grateful for the partnerships that make these facilities possible in schools across our state,” said Delaware Department of Education Secretary Steven Godowsky. “Their staff have become an important part of the fabric of our schools and contribute in a meaningful way to the quality of our school communities.”

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Governor Signs Legislation to Expand School-based Health Centers

Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2016



Wilmington, DE – At a signing ceremony today at Conrad Schools of Science near Wilmington, Governor Markell signed House Bill 234 which ensures that school-based health centers are established in every Delaware secondary public school.

Over the past three decades, most Delaware public high schools have created on-site health centers and today more than 21,000 students are enrolled in 29 schools that feature these in-house facilities which provide links to preventive care, early detection of chronic conditions, and diagnosis and treatment of minor and acute illnesses.

“School-based health centers are about creating links between students and healthcare resources in our community, and by supporting the physical and behavioral healthcare needs of our students they’re creating opportunities for all young people to meet their full potential in life,” Governor Markell said. “I’m proud to sign this legislation, which affirms the value of these facilities and ensures that they are available throughout all of our communities.”

School-based health centers are operated under the auspices of the state’s Division of Public Health and are staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals who use a holistic approach to address a broad range of physical and mental health issues, and health-related needs of students.

School-based health centers are not designed to serve as a primary care provider, but instead to coordinate care between students and their primary care provider, and to increase access to services. They are accessible resources for students who are experiencing depression and anxiety, or are facing bullying behavior, and have proven effective at improving communications with parents, reducing the burden of chronic medical conditions, providing mental health supports, and improving academic performance and school attendance.

“School-based health centers provide an array of important services to meet the needs of Delaware public school students,” said Rep. Kim Williams, the lead sponsor of HB 234. “The centers can provide early detection of emotional stress and chronic conditions, promote on-going comprehensive health care of students, provide preventative care and encourage parent involvement in the health of their children. This law will ensure that all children attending Delaware public high schools will have the same access to essential services.”

The top services provided by school-based health centers are:
o Sport Physicals
o Behavioral Health Counseling
o Primary Prevention and Early Invention
o Health Education
o Information and Referral

“School-based health centers offer a variety of services and supports to help both the student and the family,” said Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf. “From care as simple as immunizations, to helping students who are depressed, anxious or being bullied to learn strategies to manage situations in a healthy way, the health centers offer direct services and important links with primary care providers.”

“School wellness centers have a powerful impact on our students’ health and student achievement and I am grateful for the partnerships that make these facilities possible in schools across our state,” said Delaware Department of Education Secretary Steven Godowsky. “Their staff have become an important part of the fabric of our schools and contribute in a meaningful way to the quality of our school communities.”

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.