Expanding School‐Based Health Centers: Sustainable Partnerships and Building Access

Abstract

AbstractChildren require accessible, affordable health care to support health and education outcomes. Health care access is affected by children's social determinants of health. School‐based health centers (SBHC) bypass larger social structures and social determinants of health, providing accessible health care to children. New SBHC development should consider university collaboration partnerships to establish funding sustainability. University interprofessional health programs allow for high‐quality, advanced practice nurse care models to staff SBHCs. When developing an SBHC, founders should utilize access theory to ensure conformity between the targeted population's needs and health services. The dimensions of the theory assist in building and evaluating access. As the pandemic continues to cause health care access barriers for children, advocates, and policymakers should focus efforts on sustaining and expanding SBHCs.