nasbhc letter superintendents supporting school-based health centers

7/28/2019 Nasbhc Letter Superintendents Supporting School-based Health Centers

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April 10, 2013

The Honorable Tom Harkin, ChairmanSubcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related

AgenciesCommittee on AppropriationsUnited States Senate, SD-131Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Jack KingstonSubcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and RelatedAgenciesCommittee on Appropriations2358-B Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515

Dear Chairmen Harkin and Kingston:

We, the undersigned school administrators, are united in our support for school-

based health centers (SBHCs). We are writing to ask for inclusion of $50 millionfor the operations of SBHCs in the fiscal year 2014 budget.

SBHCs serve as a vital access point for primary and mental health care forstudents who otherwise would go without. Studies demonstrate that adolescentsare far more likely to come to SBHCs for mental health services than to othercommunity providers.

School-based health centers offer high quality mental health care byusing an integrated strategy for addressing health and mental healthissues. Several studies have shown that the barriers experienced in

traditional mental health settings stigma, non-compliance, inadequateaccess are overcome in school-based settings.

In studies of SBHC service utilization, mental health counseling isrepeatedly identified as the leading reason for visits by students.

President

Linda Juszczak

Board ofDirectors

ChairTJ CosgroveSeattle, WA

Chair-ElectKelly DunkinDenver, CO

SecretaryAllan Alson

Evanston, IL

TreasurerElisabeth EricksonWest Chester, PA

Lois BackonNew York, NY

Cynthia Barnes-BoydChicago, IL

Rita CookBethesda, MD

Gilbert HandalEl Paso, TX

Maureen HanrahanDenver, CO

Joey HortonWatertown, NY

Cassandra JoubertFresno, CA

Karen SaverinoWashington, DC

Peter WallaceIowa City, IA

Jesse White-FresNorth Haven, CT

Winston WongOakland, CA


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Moreover, poor health severely limits a childs motivation and ability to learn.Research confirms what we have seen with our own eyes: health disparitiesaffect educational achievement. Improving students health is integral toeducation success.

High school SBHC users in one 2000 study had a 50 percent decrease inabsenteeism and 25 percent decrease in tardiness two months afterreceiving school-based mental health and counseling.

A study of SBHC users found that those who use the clinic for medicalpurposes had a significant increase in attendance over nonusers.

Students cannot learn if they are sick, and SBHCs are proven to decreaseabsenteeism and tardiness. In our schools, we have seen SBHCs keep studentshealthy and at their desks.

As Congress looks to strengthen our education and health care sectors, yourcommittees can make a difference by supporting appropriations for theoperations of school-based health centers.

Sincerely,

Linda Juszczak, DNSc, MPH, MS, CPNP, RNPresidentNational Assembly on School-Based Health Care

Tom Torlakson, State Superintendentof Public Instruction, CaliforniaDr. Trudy Arriaga, Superintendent,Ventura Unified School District;CaliforniaDorma Baker, Superintendent, PajaroValley Unified School District; CaliforniaDr. Daryl Camp, Superintendent,Riverbank Unified School DistrictRichard Carranza, Superintendent, San

Francisco Unified School District;CaliforniaDr. John Deasy, Superintendent, Los

Angeles Unified School District;CaliforniaRobert Frausto, Superintendent,Kerman Unified School District;California

Jon Gundry, Superintendent,Pasadena Unified School District;CaliforniaDr. Bruce Harter, Superintendent, WestContra Costa Unified School District;CaliforniaBill Kowba, Superintendent, San DiegoUnified School District; CaliforniaDr. Debbra Lindo, Superintendent,Emery Unified School District; California

Richard Martinez, Superintendent,Pomona Unified School District;CaliforniaKari McVeigh, Superintendent, NewHaven Unified School District; CaliforniaMarco Petruzzi, Chief ExecutiveOfficer/Superintendent, Green DotPublic Schools; California


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Jonathan Raymond, Superintendent,Sacramento City Unified School District;CaliforniaNeil Smith, Co-Superintendent, BerkeleyUnified School District; California

Dr. Tony Smith, Superintendent, OaklandUnified School District; CaliforniaEdward Velasquez,Superintendent, Lynwood Unified SchoolDistrictKirsten Vital, Superintendent, AlamedaUnified School District; California

Curt Babcock, Superintendent, NorthMuskegon Public Schools; MichiganMischa Bashir, Superintendent, Inkster

Public Schools; MichiganSteve Edwards, Superintendent, Reeths-Puffer Public Schools; MichiganDaniel Evans, Superintendent, JacksonPublic Schools; MichiganJon Fleske, Superintendent, MuskegonPublic Schools; MichiganAnthony J. Habra, Superintendent,Rudyard Area Schools; MichiganBrian Galdes, Superintendent, SouthRedford Schools; MichiganJason Kennedy, Superintendent, HoltonPublic Schools; MichiganJohn Krolewski, Superintendent, BendlePublic Schools; MichiganTom Livezey, Superintendent, OakridgePublic Schools; MichiganJerry McDowell, Superintendent, WhitehallDistrict Schools; MichiganTeresa Weatherall Neal, Superintendent,Grand Rapids Public Schools; MichiganThomas Niczay, Superintendent,Hamtramck School District; MichiganMark Parsons, Superintendent, MantonConsolidated Schools; MichiganDave Peden, Superintendent, MonaShores Public Schools; MichiganKaren Ridgeway, Superintendent, DetroitPublic Schools; Michigan

Nathan Robrahn, Superintendent,Montague Area Public Schools; MichiganGeorge Sassin, Superintendent,Clintondale Community; MichiganJohn Silveri, Superintendent, Waterford

School District; MichiganStiles X. Simmons, Superintendent,Baldwin Community; MichiganBob Szymoniak, Superintendent, FruitportCommunity Schools; MichiganShawn S. Thornton, Superintendent,

Alcona Community Schools; MichiganKimberly Tufnell, Superintendent, Gwinn

Area Community; MichiganPat Walstra, Superintendent, Orchard ViewSchools; Michigan

John VanLoon, Superintendent, RavennaPublic Schools; MichiganChristopher A. Wigent, Superintendent,Wayne RESA; MichiganMichael F. Wright, Superintendent,Kalamazoo Public Schools; Michigan

Steve Connolly, Superintendent ofSchools, MSAD 60 (North Berwick); MaineJoe Findlay, Principal, Nobel High School(North Berwick); MaineKatherine Groadin, Superintendent ofSchools, Auburn School Department; MaineEileen King, Superintendent of Schools,

AOS 98 (Boothbay Harbor); MaineDaniel M. Lee, Ed.D, Superintendent ofSchools, Brewster; MaineJames A. Underwood, Superintendent ofSchools, AOS 77, Sunrise County; MaineWilliam Webster, Superintendent ofSchools, Lewiston Public Schools; MaineDonna Wolfrom, Ed.D, Superintendent ofSchools, RSU 38 (Readville); Maine

Khalid N. Mumim, Ed. D., Superintendentof Schools, Caroline County; Maryland


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Dr. Aaron Allen, Principal Burns HighSchool, Cleveland County Schools; NorthCarolinaCarol Battle, Principal, Wayne Middle/High

Academy, Wayne County; North Carolina

Dr. John Boldt, Principal, Southern WayneHigh School, Wayne County; NorthCarolinaDale Ellis, Superintendent, MontgomeryCounty Schools; North CarolinaSonja Emerson, Principal, Dillard MiddleSchool, Wayne County; North CarolinaTonya Faison, Principal, Goldsboro HighSchool, Wayne County; North CarolinaDavAnn Hubbard, Principal, HiawasseDam Elementary/Middle School, Cherokee

County; North CarolinaDella B. Ingram, Principal East MiddleSchool, Montgomery County; NorthCarolinaDavid L. Jones, Superintendent,Henderson County; North CarolinaAmy S. Jones, Principal, Crest MiddleSchool, Cleveland County; North CarolinaLeigh Jones, Dalton L. McMichael HighSchool, Rockingham County; NorthCarolina

Tammy Keel, Principal, Mt. Olive MiddleSchool, Wayne County; North CarolinaDonald L. Martin, Jr., Superintendent,Forsyth County Schools; North CarolinaDr. Patrick Miller, Superintendent, Greene

County Schools; North CarolinaDenise M. Montgomery, Principal,Hillandale Elementary School, HendersonCounty; North CarolinaS. Danyelle Parker, Principal, MineralSprings Middle School, Forsyth County;North CarolinaDr. Steven D. Taylor, Superintendent,Wayne County Public Schools; NorthCarolinaSylvester Townsend, Principal, Brogden

Middle School, Wayne County; NorthCarolinaElaine Wyatt, Head School Counselor,Mitchell County Schools; North Carolina

Rob Saxton, Deputy Superintendent,Oregon Department of Education

cc: Sen. Jerry Moran, Ranking member, Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health andHuman Services, Education and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations

Hon. Rosa DeLauro, Ranking member, House Subcommittee on Labor, Health andHuman Services, Education and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations

nasbhc letter superintendents supporting school-based health centers

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