Identified Need for School-Based Health Centers in Delaware
According to governmental statistics, adolescents are the only population in the United States whose health status is actually worsening. Of this country’s 31 million young adults:
- 34% have considered suicide while 14% have attempted to kill themselves
- 34.5% have smoked cigarettes
- 41.3% have consumed alcohol
- 25% have contracted a sexually transmitted disease
- The leading causes of death for adolescents have changed from natural occurrences (illness and birth defects) to unintentional and intentional injuries
- Adolescents (ages 10 – 19) have the lowest utilization of health care services of any age group and are least likely to seek care at a provider’s office
[Access to Health Care Part 1: Children (Vital Health Statistics, Series 10, No. 10), 1999, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control, US Department of Health and Human Services].
Over the last three decades, communities across the nation have created school-based health centers (SBHCs) in response to the above troubling statistics.
- The first health centers were established in St. Paul, Minnesota and Dallas, Texas in the early 1970's
- Currently there are more than 1,300 school-based health centers in operation across the country
- There are 28 school-based health centers in Delaware.
For further information go to:
- The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
- National Assembly on School-Based Health Care
- Basic School-Based Health Center Services
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Information for Parents, Health/Medical Staff and Legislators
- Information for Students
- Registration Information
- SBHC Home Page
- School-Based Health Center Locations
