A school-based health center (SBHC) is a student-focused health center located in or adjacent to a school that typically provides integrated medical, behavioral health, and other health care services.  An SBHC is usually a collaboration between the community, the school, and a health care sponsor.  The health care sponsor may be a community clinic or health care system, hospital, public health department, or tribal program.  Under this model, the health care sponsor staffs and manages operations of the SBHC according to the school and community's needs and resources.  The SBHCs typically are staffed by a primary care provider, behavioral health care provider, and clinic coordinator, although dental and other health professionals may also provide services.  According to the Washington School-Based Health Alliance, there are more than 50 SBHCs throughout the state, 30 of which are established in Seattle public middle and high schools. 

The Department of Health must establish a school-based health center (SBHC) program office with the objective to expand and sustain the availability of services to students with a focus on historically underserved populations.  The program office must:

• develop, in partnership with a statewide nonprofit organization, grant funding criteria and metrics for monitoring and evaluating grant recipients;
• award grant funding for SBHCs' planning, start-up costs, and ongoing operations costs;
• monitor and evaluate SBHCs that receive grant funding;
• partner with the statewide nonprofit organization to provide training and technical assistance to SBHCs; and
• coordinate with the statewide nonprofit organization, educational service districts, the Health Care Authority, hosting school districts, and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to provide support to SBHCs.