School-Based
Health Center
Program
VISION
Every New Mexico child and adolescent grows up to be a thriving adult.
MISSION
Promote, protect and improve the physical and mental health of children and adolescents in New Mexico through partnerships, access to care, prevention strategies, effective use of data, advocacy, and promotion of health equity.
The School-Based Health Center (SBHC) Model
School-based health centers (SBHC) are a resource that support the health and well-being of children and adolescents.
SBHC are medical clinics that offer physical and mental healthcare to children and youth either in a school or on/adjacent to school grounds. SBHCs aim to reduce barriers to healthcare, such as cost and transportation and make health services convenient and easily accessible to children and youth. They can address a wide range of needs, including well-child exams, sick visits, immunizations, health screenings, mental health counseling, reproductive health services, dental health services, school-wide health promotion activities, and case management.
Each SBHC is staffed by a primary care provider who may be a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, as well as a behavioral healthcare professional, and support staff such as a receptionist, medical assistant, or community health worker.
Goals of SBHCs in New Mexico
- Improve access to affordable quality primary care and mental health services for school-aged children and families.
- Provide patient-centered care for all students, regardless of insurance status.
- Improve educational outcomes by keeping students healthy and in class.
SBHC Users
Services are available to students regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. In some instances, centers provide services to siblings, families, school personnel and community members.
SBHC Services
SBHCs provide primary medical care and behavioral health care and health education but may include a variety of services including, but not limited to:
- Well-child exams, and sports physicals
- Treatment of minor injuries/illnesses
- Immunizations
- Health screenings
- Mental health and other counseling
- School-wide health promotion activities
- Social services
- Case management
- Suicide prevention
Why SBHCs Work?
They are open and operating when young people are in school. As a result, students are back in
class faster than if they had sought health care in a non-SBHC setting. Additionally, parents do
not need to take time off work to transport their child to the doctor.
Map of SBHC Access Points / Locations
More Information
SBHCs History of Championing Student Health
Please refer to the timeline for impactful historical dates in the School-Based Health Center Program history.
