WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) today announced the passage of their bipartisan School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act that will reauthorize funding for school-based health centers through 2026. School-based health centers provide a combination of primary care, mental health care, substance abuse counseling, case management, dental health, nutrition education, health education and health promotion activities.
“Children across West Virginia rely on the primary care, mental health services, health education, and drug addiction prevention counseling available within many of our schools. This makes it crucial that our school-based health centers receive our full support,” said Senator Capito. “The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the important role our school services play in the development of our young people. I’m thankful that our legislation was included in the year-end package and that many of our school-based health centers will be eligible to receive this vital assistance through 2026.”
"School-based health centers play an important role in providing care to so many children who don’t have access to a family doctor,” said Senator Stabenow. “They are also meeting a critical need for mental health services for children impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Today, the Senate has acted to support these health centers that are a crucial part of our health care system.”
School-based health centers have continued to provide services to their patients throughout the COVID-19 crisis, with more than half of the centers offering telehealth services. Throughout the pandemic, school-based health centers have seen a 73 percent increase in the use of vital mental health services by children and adolescents.
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