46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

REQUESTING THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT POLICIES THAT WILL PROVIDE IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WHEREAS, connections among school, community and family are critical elements required for protecting children's health, safety and well-being; and

WHEREAS, primary care and behavioral health services are vital components of a comprehensive approach to promoting health and education and preventing illness among America's children; and

WHEREAS, school children today experience the harmful effects of major public health concerns, including poor nutrition, tobacco use, violence and unintentional injury, substance abuse and chronic disease such as asthma, obesity and dental caries; and

WHEREAS, millions of children do not have access to appropriate, affordable and timely preventive health care; and

WHEREAS, as schools are a logical and time-proven setting in which to provide medical and behavioral health care to those who would otherwise have no access to health care, support for school-based health centers is an important strategy for enhancing access to high quality health care for all children; and

WHEREAS, school-based health centers:

A. improve children's access to health care by overcoming financial and non-financial barriers to care such as lack of health insurance, transportation difficulties, having to miss school and insufficient attention to the particular needs of adolescents;

B. ensure access to care for those students who are the most vulnerable and least likely to obtain care through a traditional health care delivery system;

C. strive to align students to a medical home and communicate regularly with the primary care provider in a way that enhances the coordination of health care delivery;

D. partner with parents in the health education and health supervision of their children, creating connections for the family that reinforce healthy behaviors; and

E. integrate their services into the school milieu and support a comprehensive approach to health in the school setting;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state board of education be requested to establish a policy that recognizes the unique characteristics and services delivered in school-based health centers, ensures that school-based health centers are adequately compensated for services provided to publicly insured patients and establishes public health resources for support to underserved children and adolescents; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the state board of education.