Quinnipiack Valley Health District operates the School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) at Hamden High School and Church Street Elementary School in Hamden. They are supported by a grant from the state of Connecticut. The SBHCs are state licensed outpatient clinics housed right in the school. The SBHCs are opened during school hours, so that students and parents/guardians do not need to miss school or work to get care. All services are provided with no charge to students or families (no cost/fees to families) though billable services submitted to your insurance company when appropriate.

The SBHCs are staffed by a team of licensed professionals provided through a partnership with Cornell Scott-Hill Health Corporation and includes an onsite Nurse Practitioner, a Social Worker and a Medical Assistant. The SBHC providers do not replace your child’s regular health/mental health providers, nor do they replace the role of the school nurse.

The Nurse Practitioner provides preventative medical services like immunizations, physical exams, and sports physicals and acute care visits to diagnose, treat and follow up on illness or injury.

The Social Worker provides assessments, individual/group counseling, student support groups, crisis intervention, and short/long term therapy as needed.

All SBHC providers work closely with providers and the school nurse to ensure that students get the care they need at school, or through community support services. If your child currently sees a specialist, the SBHC can help with management and works with the student to help them learn how to manage according to what their provider recommends.

CONVENIENCE! The School Based Health Center is right at school. For example, if the student is enrolled in the SBHC and wakes up with a sore throat, a quick strep test (and a culture) can be done right at school. If it is positive, antibiotics can be started right away.

COMFORT! At the SBHC, the enrolled student can talk to a clinician right at school, the child does not have to travel very far for help. A special relationship with SBHC staff can be developed.

The school nurse role is very important for school health. Our role begins where the school nurse’s role ends. School nurses can assess and recommend. SBHC staff can diagnose and treat. We work very closely with the school nurses and communicate information as allowed by law.

The SBHC is funded through a CT Department of Public Health Grant. In addition, the clinic receives some reimbursement for services from insurance companies.