Clarifying Misconceptions About School-Based Health Care

Background: To health professionals working in American school-based health centers, the benefits of school-based health programs are obvious. The philosophical warrant for this work has been reasserted for over 70 years. And yet, the divisiveness of health and health care in the U.S. has led to questions and even concerns about the appropriateness of co-locating healthcare services in schools.

Contributions to practice: We address three common misconceptions to provide an accurate depiction of the work school-based health centers do. The misconceptions we address are: 1. that education and health care should be separate; 2. that parents and guardians alone are responsible for their children's health; and 3. that school-based health centers cut out parents and guardians from involvement in their children's health.

Implications for school health policy, practice, and equity: Misconceptions about school-based health centers undermine the important work being done in these centers, including the pursuit of improved child health outcomes. Clarifying these misconceptions is of the utmost importance.

Conclusions: It is important to understand and actively address common misconceptions about school-based health centers. Doing so can help leverage the opportunities these centers and programs present.