Greetings,

The work that Congress has done on health care reform to date has included federal support for school-based health centers.  This is an important step forward in increasing access to health care for children and enabling schools to help ALL students succeed.  But our work is not finished.  Recently, the White House and Congress have suggested that they may be willing to eliminate this language.  We have to let our elected officials in Washington, D.C.  know how devastating this would be to the health of our children and our communities.  

The California School Boards Association, in collaboration with its education partners, is working to keep school-based health centers in health care reform.  In order to do this, the White House and members of Congress need to get a strong message that the public cares about school health centers.  It only takes a few minutes to use CSBA’s online system to send a message to President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, U.S. Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and your U.S. Representative to include school-based health centers in the health care reform legislation. 

In addition, please call the White House comment line.  It takes a few minutes on hold but otherwise it’s very easy.  The numbers are 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414 (just say “I’d like to leave a comment for the President”).  Your message can be short and to the point.  For example: “Hello, My name is [your name].  I’m a school board member calling from California.  I'd like to tell President Obama that I support school-based health centers and would like to see them as part of health care reform.”  Make sure the person writes down “school-based health centers” and “support.”

Thank you for taking action!

CSBA Staff:  Erika Hoffman, Pr. Legislative Advocate (ehoffman@csba.org), Marites Ares (mares@csba.org) 

Subject: Leave School-Based Health Care in Health Care Reform

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As a school board member and your constituent, I am writing to urge you to leave school-based health centers in the health care reform legislation. These centers are crucial to our children's health care and safety.

California currently has 153 school health centers located throughout the state. They are effective because they put health care where the students are. These health centers: (1) offer quality services in a safe, accessible location, (2) provide support for families, (3) expand access to health care without increasing costs, and (4) improve academic performance. The majority of communities served are in low-income areas where many children lack health coverage. As an educator, I know that there is nothing more basic to a child's ability to succeed in school and in life than good health.

California's school health centers offer a range of services with the most common being basic primary care services such as screenings, immunizations, physicals and assessments. Many also play an important role in managing students' chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes. In addition, many health centers play an important role in mental health and youth development and a few also provide dental services.

The services that school-based health centers provide are crucial to our children's health care and safety. As your constituent, I urge you to leave school-based health centers in the health care reform legislation.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]