HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Based Health Centers MemoMemo
To: Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
From: Health Services Department
CC: Dave Kanner, Erik Kropp
Date: 8/14/09
Re: Consideration of adding one or two new School -Based Health Centers
Purpose: To update Board on opportunity to add a new School -Based Health Center in
Sisters School District and/or Redmond School District and request their support
Challenge: State School -Based Health Center funding provides $ 41,000 per new center
in counties with existing centers, and actual cost of operating ranges from $106,000 to
$122,000 depending on level of service offered, and number of days open, leaving a gap
of $65,000 to $80,000. Further the Request for Proposals (RFP) will be fairly
competitive as only 7 new centers will be funded for counties with pre-existing centers.
Background: La Pine School -Based Health Center founded in 2004 continues to
increase in client visits (this year over 600). Both the new center in Bend (at Ensworth
ES) and in Redmond (at Lynch ES) were certified this year. Visits at the new centers are
higher than expected during the first year of operations (almost 600 at each center this
year), showing pent-up demand. The high number of OHP and uninsured in our
community, and the planned expansion of OHP to 80,000 additional Oregon children
give reason to anticipate high demand for an access point for health care for these student
populations. Recently the state announced an RFP process for counties to add additional
SBHCs, due September 18, 2009. In light of this opportunity, talks have begun with the
three area school districts, and two (Sister and Redmond) have indicated a high level of
interest. At our recent Public Health Advisory Board Mike Bonetto from Cascades East
Health Center (CEHC) indicated an interest in having Health Services request funding
from CEHC Community Investment funding, and this funding is being investigated.
Efforts are being made to maximize billing in all centers as well. Both school districts
have been asked to provide remodeling of clinic space, IT connectivity and support,
phone lines, janitorial services, school representation on site councils as well as some
level of support. Contact has been made with Sisters Park and Recreation to open
discussion about use of shared space at the high school (SOAR building) and with Sisters
City Council member Jerry Bogart who is willing to participate in meetings. Sisters
Schools is concerned about being able to provide the needed space and funding. If a
SBHC is established in Sisters, it is anticipated Deschutes County Health Services will
utilize this space to also offer Women Infant Child Nutrition (WIC), Mental Health
services and Immunizations.
Redmond School district has identified possible spaces for a center in one of the high
schools, and a ready willingness to proceed with preliminary planning requirements.
Long term sustainability will be best achieved by combined funding from the hospital,
county, school districts, and OHP revenue.
If successful in the RFP process this state grant would provide planning money for 2009-
2010 school year to fund staff time for building community support and partnerships.
Beginning the 2010-2011 fiscal year additional funding from the county general fund
would likely be needed to supplement the amount offered by other partners. In light of
the high numbers of youth lacking access to mental health and health care in our county
Health Services is asking the Board to be supportive in our efforts to further build our
School -Based Health Care system.
Contact: Kate Moore, Program Manager, MCH
322-7422