WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) together with her colleagues Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (WV-02), Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53), and Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-8) introduced legislation to improve children’s access to quality primary health services.  Capps, a former public school nurse, introduced the School-Based Health Clinic Establishment Act of 2009 to provide comprehensive and easily accessible preventive and primary health care service to medically underserved communities at school-based health clinics (SBHCs).  The legislation would provide a consistent, dedicated stream of federal funding to support the school-based health clinics.

“This is a smart investment in our young people that will improve their health and their academic performance,” said Capps, a nurse and Vice-Chair of the Health Subcommittee.  “Too often our children are prevented from achieving their full potential because they have inadequate access to preventive and primary health care services.  By encouraging school-based health clinics we can help make sure that our children go to school healthy, ready to learn, and that they obtain healthy habits that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.”

“Michigan has been a leader in development of school-based health centers,” said Rogers, also a Health Subcommittee member. “I am proud our state has set an example for high-quality child care where low income children can have access to health care services. School-based health centers can connect eligible children to health care coverage and provide full primary care services to children who need it most. Strengthening these centers will improve health care for children across the nation.”

“School-based health clinics provide a critical service to our young students, particularly in many rural communities where access to care is a key concern,” noted Capito.  “With improved support for school-based clinics we’re bringing primary healthcare directly to children and helping create an environment where they can learn and grow.”

More than eight million children in the United States lack any health insurance coverage and millions more are underinsured.  These children all face significant barriers to receiving proper medical and preventive healthcare.  School-based health clinics (SBHCs) are effective in bringing critical preventative and primary care to these medically underserved children while additionally decreasing student absences and improving academic performance which is often hindered by poor health.  SBHCs also work to address health-related risks facing school aged children such as school violence, injury, asthma, obesity, and tobacco use.  Working closely with parents, guardians, and school personnel, SBHCs help foster positive behaviors and encourage healthy lifestyles.

Approximately two million American children have access to one of the 1700 existing SBHCs in 44 states.  Currently the clinics rely primarily on state and local funding, which has proven to be an unstable source of support particularly in this current economic downturn.  This legislation would provide a more reliable source of funding through the federal government.

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.