Colorado U.S. Senator today applauded an announcement made today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the Aurora Public Schools (APS) District will receive $475,000 to boost school-based health centers (SBHC’s) and keep students healthy. Bennet, a former school superintendent, has long been a champion of school-based health centers and the services they provide.
“Colorado’s school-based health centers play an invaluable role in keeping our kids healthy, in the classroom and ready to learn,” said Bennet. “This funding will help ensure Aurora Public Schools have the resources they need to provide critical medical care and attention to our kids.”
School-based health centers typically provide students a combination of primary care, mental health care, substance abuse counseling, case management, dental health, nutrition education, health education and health promotion activities.
The health centers at Crawford Elementary School and Laredo Elementary School allow students in all of Aurora’s preschools and elementary schools to have access to health services. This grant will allow the Aurora School District to continue and expand on-site, primary health care services, delivery and outreach for medically underserved students by moving to a permanent, sustainable location outside the school building.
Bennet has long been a champion of school-based health centers. In 2009, Bennet introduced a bill to ensure SBHC’s are properly reimbursed for their services by the federal government following a school visit to Adams City School. He also fought to ensure funding for these important medical centers was included in the Affordable Care Act.
The funding is part of a $14 million grant made possible under the Affordable Care Act aimed at improving school-based health centers in schools across the country.