45 Years of Service | 1972 - 2017 15
School-Based
Health Centers
Every child deserves a chance to be healthy and to reach their full
potential in life. at philosophy, at the core of CHC, extends to
an increasing number of districts and schools, especially in urban
communities where the needs are oen greatest — bringing CHC's
forward-thinking, technologically savvy and all-encompassing
model to children who might otherwise receive less-than-optimal
care.
CHC provides a comprehensive model of primary care, oral
health, and behavioral health in 30 schools. Other schools request
just a single service such as behavioral health (an additional 30
schools) or oral health, choosing to expand to other services when
they are ready.
Primary medical care can include treating common episodic ill-
nesses, physical exams, immunizations, and helping children and
families manage on-going health problems with asthma or diabe-
tes, in collaboration with their primary care provider. e behav-
ioral health program includes individual and group therapy but
also crisis intervention. CHC's Chief Behavioral Health Officer,
Dr. Tim Kearney notes "in some communities CHC has a SBHC
behavioral health service in every school. at means a child or
family who needs counseling and behaviorlal health treatment gets
it — no waits, delays, or barriers. e Mobile Dental Program of-
fers screenings and exams, cleanings and X-rays, sealants and oral
"The formula for educational
success starts with a healthy child
– a child who is in school and
ready to learn. That's what drives
and defines CHC's School-Based
Health Centers, which provide
medical, dental and behavioral
health services to more than
17,000 Connecticut students in
190 schools annually."
- Yvette Highsmith-Francis,
VP, Eastern Region
