Data Definition and Methodology: This measure shows the percentage of students enrolled in a school-based health center (SBHC) among those students attending schools with a SBHC.

Data for this measure was obtained from the Maryland Department of Health's School-Based Health Center Program annual survey.

Public Health Significance: Children from low-income and racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States commonly experience worse health, are less likely to have a usual place of health care, and miss more days of school because of illness than do children from less economically and socially disadvantaged
populations. They are also more likely to be hungry and have problems with vision, oral health, or hearing. SBHCs can help address these obstacles, which can be critical to students’ education and long-term health.

Maryland’s school-based health centers provide a wide variety of services, including primary care, sick visits, sports physicals, behavioral and mental health services, oral health services, and care coordination. The school-based health centers work in partnership with each patient’s primary care doctor or pediatrician to ensure they receive the best care possible. In 2021, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future expanded grant funding available for school-based health centers, allowing the Program to expand to additional sites across the state.

Additional Resources:

• MDH School-Based Health Center Program
• Community Preventive Services Task Force SBHC Report