Affordable Care Act support for school-based health centersWill create jobs, increase access to care for thousands of children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2011
 Contact: HRSA Press Office
(301) 443-3376

Affordable Care Act support for school-based health centers
Will create jobs, increase access to care for thousands of children
Health care law will help rebuild aging clinics

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more than $14 million was awarded today to 45 school-based health centers across the country allowing the number of children served to increase by nearly 50 percent, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced.

Clinics receiving the awards, made possible by the health reform law, are already providing much-needed health care services to 112,000 children.  Today’s infusion of new money will enable them to expand their capacity and modernize their facilities, which will allow them to treat an estimated additional 53,000 children in 29 States.

“Children are the foundation upon which this country will grow,” said Secretary Sebelius.  “The Affordable Care Act will help ensure our children get the high-quality health care they need and deserve.”

Funds awarded today will help create jobs for Americans across the country. Funds will support job opportunities as more Americans will be needed to meet the clinics’ pressing capital needs - including construction, renovation and new equipment.

School-based health centers enable children with acute or chronic illnesses to attend school, and improve the overall health and wellness of all children through health screenings, health promotion and disease prevention activities.

Typically, a school-based clinic provides a combination of primary care, mental health care, substance abuse counseling, case management, dental health, nutrition education, health education and health promotion activities.

“These grants will enable school-based health centers to establish new sites or upgrade their current facilities, which will increase their ability to provide preventive and primary health care services, and help children improve their health and remain healthy,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.
The Affordable Care Act provides $200 million in funding from 2010 – 2013 for the School-Based Health Center Capital Program to address significant and pressing capital needs and to improve delivery and support expansion of services at school-based health centers.

Today’s grants are the second in the series of awards that will be made available to school-based health centers under the Affordable Care Act.  The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) oversees the School-Based Health Center Capital Program.

A full list of today’s grantees is available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/12/20111208a_grantees.html

To learn more about School-Based Health Centers, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/12/health-centers12082011a.html

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/.

Affordable Care Act support for school-based health centers<br />Will create jobs, increase access to care for thousands of children