The shortage of affordable quality care for children and youth is especially severe in rural areas. The School-Based Health Center model of care—a partnership between a school and a health care organization—is a common-sense approach to easy, accessible and quality care for underserved children and youth who lack adequate health coverage where care is in crisis. SBHCs address a common barrier to care: access.

The Bassett health care Network’s SBHP operates 21 SBHCs in rural upstate New York. SBHCs provide comprehensive primary care, mental health therapy and both preventive and restorative dental care, all in the school. They are open when school is in session and when schools are closed. There is no out-of-pocket cost for services, in accordance to the New York State School-Based health guidelines.

Good-quality health care is the cornerstone of school-based health care. SBHCs have also shown to decrease absenteeism rates.