House Study Committee on Health, Education, and School-Based Health Centers
During the 2015 General Assembly session, the Georgia House approved HR 640 creating the House Study Committee on Health, Education, and School-Based Health Centers. This study committee is exploring ways to expand Georgia’s school-based health centers to meet the needs of under served children and youth in our schools. The study committee met on September 15, 2015 at the State Capitol and heard the following presentations.
Presentation by Dr. Veda Johnson, Director of Partners for Equity in Child & Adolescent Health, Emory Univ School of Medicine
[slideshare id=53080489&doc=sbhc-dr-150922193747-lva1-app6892]
Presentation by Shea Ross, Director of Development and Government Affairs, with Global Partnership for Telehealth
[slideshare id=53134607&doc=sept15sbhc-studycommitteepresentations-150924011813-lva1-app6891]
Presentation by E Fener Sitoff with Voices for Georgia Children
[slideshare id=53134650&doc=sept15sbhcvoicesforgachildrene-150924011953-lva1-app6891]
The House Study Committee on Health, Education, and School-Based Health Centers was created by HR 640. It reads:
HR 640
WHEREAS, there is a profound connection between a student’s health status and educational
achievement; and
WHEREAS, improving and maintaining health so that students are present, engaged, and
hopeful is critical to their academic success; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers are an evidence-based model of health care that
address the complex health care needs of underserved children and adolescents; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers support improved education outcomes; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers improve academic achievement by improving the
physical and mental status of students, thereby raising attendance rates, increasing seat time,
reducing dropout rates, and improving classroom attention and behavior, all of which
improve school climate; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers promote positive youth development by helping to
reduce risky behaviors, such as alcohol and drug abuse; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers are organized through collaboration among schools,
communities, and health providers; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers utilize an interdisciplinary team approach to
providing access to coordinated primary health care within the context of family and
community; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers operate exclusively for the purpose of providing
health services, such as primary care, preventive health care, management and monitoring
of chronic health conditions, behavioral health care, oral health care, and health promotion
services; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers can be the first, and at times the only, access point
for continuous and comprehensive care for children with a variety of complex medical,
behavioral, and social needs; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers can reduce emergency room use and
hospitalizations and provide access to and increase use of primary care, especially among
children with chronic diseases, such as asthma; and
WHEREAS, school-based health centers have been proven to reduce costs to the Medicaid
program through reductions in pharmacy costs, emergency department visits,
hospitalizations, and use of non-emergency transportation; and
WHEREAS, Georgia ranks 42nd among the states in its development of school-based health
centers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
There is created the House Study Committee on Health, Education, and School-Based Health Centers.