School-Based Health Centers

What is a school-based health center?

In New Mexico there are more than 70 school-based health centers (SBHCs), which provide quality health services to students where the students are — in school. These centers are an important safety net in New Mexico, providing easily accessible health care when, in many cases, students wouldn’t receive care anywhere else.

  1. SBHCs provide quality health care services such as: immunizations; asthma management; diabetes management; and reproductive health services.
  2. SBHCs provide quality behavioral health services, such as: grief therapy; help with peer pressure and bullying; substance abuse; and suicide prevention.
  3. SBHCs make sure students who don’t get medical treatment anywhere else can receive it at school.
  4. SBHCs give students medical attention when they need it, catching problems like asthma and diabetes early and preventing complications later.
  5. Most importantly, SBHCs keep students healthy and in class so they can learn what they need to know to succeed in life.