We all hope children will work hard in school, get good grades and succeed in their education.� But, like all of us, kids get sick. And we know that if kids aren�t healthy then kids cannot learn. �
That�s why HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan today announced awards of $95 million to 278 school-based health center programs across the country. Provided by the Affordable Care Act, the awards will help clinics expand and provide more health care services at schools nationwide.
The awardees are currently serving approximately 790,000 patients. Today�s awards will enable them to increase their capacity by over 50-percent, serving an additional 440,000 patients.
School-based health centers improve the overall health and wellness of all children through health screenings, health promotion and disease prevention activities and enable children with acute or chronic illnesses to attend school.��
What�s more, school based health centers are where many families go to enroll their kids in public health insurance plans like Medicaid or the Children�s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The funds announced today are the first in the series of awards that will be made available to school-based health centers under the Affordable Care Act. This unprecedented investment in school-based health care will improve access to care for children. These grants will make it easier for working moms and dads to keep their kids healthy and get them the health care they need.
To learn more about HRSA�s School�Based Health Center Capital Program, visit www.hrsa.gov/ourstories/schoolhealthcenters/
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