Module 1: Articulating the Need
Guidance for Starting a School-Based Clinic
Is your community seeking to open a school-based clinic? This is the first module covering how you should articulate the need for a school-based clinic.
We also offer a variety of expert consultation and facilitation services for communities exploring, starting, and operating clinics.
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Blueprint for School-based Health Clinics
School-Based Health Alliance website
The Blueprint is a resource to help guide you as you design, operationalize, and expand your school-based clinic to meet the needs of your students and community. (Some information may be outdated).
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Identifying Opportunities for School-Based Health Care in Colorado
Colorado Health Institute (CHI), 2021
This interactive tool offers needs assessment findings on the schools and school districts that would benefit the most from the addition of a school-based health clinic. Created in partnership with CHI, Youth Healthcare Alliance, and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Comprehensive needs assessment template to be used by planning sites and updated every three years. Includes information on medical sponsor, school district, school community, larger community, perceived health needs of students, parents, school staff/faculty, community members and provider agencies.
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Youth Healthcare Alliance
Parent, student, school staff, and community survey to assess current and potential patients' use of the clinic, their health needs, and marketing messages.
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Messages to Use when Encountering Community Resistance
Youth Healthcare Alliance
It is natural for communities to raise questions concerning what school-based clinics offer. This document will give you the tools you need to enter into a dialogue with community members while utilizing evidence and Colorado law as support for your messages.
Community Engagement Tools
Community Data Tools
Section 330 Health Center Mapping Tools
Uniform Data System (UDS) Mapper
This interactive, web-based tool was designed to help assess the geographic reach, penetration, and growth of U.S. federal (Section 330) Health Center Program grantees and look-alikes.
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Diversity Data Kids
Resource of data sources that could be helpful in understanding your communities’ needs and opportunities.
Data about School-Based Healthcare
​School Nursing & School-Based Health Centers in the United States
National Association of School Health Nurses and School-Based Health Alliance, 2021
This joint statement offers an overview of how school-based clinics and school nurses collaborate for the best health outcomes for youth.
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Health and Academics are Intertwined
School-Based Health Alliance webpage
School-based health clinics are the convergence of public health, primary care, and mental health. This webpage offers key research findings on the connection between students’ health and academic performance.
School-Based Health Centers and Pediatric Practice
American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021
Some pediatricians have concerns that school-based clinics conflict with the primary care provider’s medical home. This policy provides an overview of school-based clinics and documented benefits, addresses the issue of potential conflict with the medical home, and provides recommendations to support the integration and coordination of school-based clinics and the pediatric medical home practice.
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Student Health Impact on Academics
Colorado Education Initiative, 2015
This five-minute video shares what it really takes to help kids succeed in school and in life. The social, physical, mental, and emotional health of students affects their behavior and their academics.
Planning for a Clinic
How to begin planning fundamental components necessary to open a clinic, including:
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Workplan and business models
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Organizational chart
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Partnership development and community assessments
Setting up the Clinic
Tools to help with preparations for opening your new clinic, including:
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Registration, enrollment, and consent forms
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Facilities and floor plan samples
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Job descriptions and budget templates