Priorities in Action: Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers

This month’s edition of the National Quality Strategy’s Priorities in Action features the Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers, an advocacy and networking organization committed to increasing access to quality health care for all children and adolescents in Connecticut schools. Connecticut's school based health centers (SBHCs) have delivered comprehensive health care in schools-where students spend 25 percent of their day-for 27 years. In the case of children and adolescents insured by Medicaid, each visit to an SBHC saves an estimated $35 in Medicaid costs per child per year.

Connecticut's 88 SBHCs provide physical, mental, and oral health services to more than 44,000 students in 22 Connecticut communities each year and have become a key part of Connecticut's comprehensive coordinated care system for children and adolescents.

The Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers' efforts align with National Quality Strategy priorities by promoting the delivery of person- and family-centered carein schools with the most effective prevention and treatment practices for obesity. The SBHCs work with communities to promote wide use of best practices to enable healthy living and make quality care affordable. This is accomplished through the levers of Learning and Technical Assistance, Measurement and Feedback, and Innovation and Diffusion. To find out more about the Connecticut SBHCs, their alignment with the National Quality Strategy priorities, and how they align by using the National Quality Strategy levers, visits www.ahrq.gov/workingforquality/.

To request high resolution graphics to promote your organization's alignment to the National Quality Strategy, contact NQStrategy@ahrq.hhs.gov.