Health Equity

Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers

2015 - $75,000

Although school based health centers (SBHCs) are seen as an effective entity to provide integrated health services to school-aged children, including students in many underserved communities, the model is not yet fully integrated into the primary health care system in terms of accreditation and funding.

The Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers (CASBHC) will participate in a pilot project underway in SBHCs in New York City in partnership with two CT-based SBHC sites in East Hartford and New London, the New York State coalition of SBHCs, Montefiore Medical Systems, and the Primary Care Development Corporation. The project is targeted to develop, test, and establish a set of quality standards that are broadly recognized by the school health community, regulatory, and funding organizations. CASBHC will build upon the strengths of SBHCs, explore financing options for reimbursement for this alternative model, and advocate among state agencies and policymakers to adopt this new care model as healthcare innovation.

CASBHC’s initiative is aligned with CT Health’s health equity objective of support the integration of primary, behavioral and oral health and to strengthen the role of the safety net for underserved populations.

Grant funds will support staffing costs, consulting fees and stipend for the East Hartford and New London sites.

Other Grants: