Health Services at School Based Health Center Sites
Overview
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services currently operates 12 School Based Health-Wellness Centers located in schools across the county. They provide a comprehensive range of services including health, mental health, social services and other services that promote positive youth development and support families and students to be healthy and successful in school. School Based Health Centers are a partnership of the Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Public Schools, the Primary Care Coalition, public-private sector organizations, and the community.
The School Based Health-Wellness Center Advisory Task Group, with representation from a broad spectrum of partners and stakeholders, makes planning recommendations to the County Executive and County Council for future development.
A multidisciplinary team of providers care for the students including nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, physicians, behavioral health providers, MCPS staff and other support personnel and are part of the School Based Health Center team. Parents sign written consent for their children to receive the services at the SBHC. SBHCs help students remain healthy, ready to learn and more likely to participate in academics, sports and social activities. Visits to the emergency room and hospitalizations are reduced. In addition, they provide access to preventive and sick care services to children in a familiar setting, which in turn, children are more likely to return to class, keeping students in school.
Background
Montgomery County opened its first two School Based Health Centers (SBHC) sites at elementary schools in 1997- at Broad Acres and Harmony Hills Elementary Schools as a partnership with the Linkages to Learning (LTL) Program. Since then 7 other LTL SBHC have opened; Gaithersburg Elementary School, which also serves Washington Grove Elementary School students, Summit Hall Elementary School, which additionally serves Rosemont Elementary School students, New Hampshire Estates, which also serves Oakview Elementary School students, Rolling Terrace Elementary School, Highland Elementary School, which also serves Arcola Elementary School students, Viers Mill Elementary School and Weller Road Elementary School. In addition, there are 3 School Based Wellness Centers located at high schools in the county, with more being planned.
About School Based Health Centers
School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) work with children and their families and offer a comprehensive range of medical health care, including preventive, sick care and mental health services in a familiar and family friendly environment. Each of the SBHCs is partnered with Linkages to Learning to offer these services. The medical health care component serves students enrolled in the schools as well as their uninsured siblings and Care for Kids children living within the zip code of the school.
Health services offered include:
- Routine or sports physical examinations
- Sick care – diagnosis and treatment of minor / acute / chronic health problems
- Referral and case management of children with acute and chronic illnesses
- Health screenings (including vision, hearing, dental)
- Immunizations
- Prescription and dispensing of medications
- Laboratory testing
- Access to dental care
- Dental varnish
- Health education and counseling through individual interventions, classes, health fairs or health promotion
The health care team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, school nurses, certified nursing technicians, and the Linkages to Learning staff; site coordinator, case manager, and mental health therapist. There may also be a community service aide, health room technician, and/or graduate school interns as part of the core site staff (bilingual staff and interpreters are available).
Children must be enrolled in the SBHC to receive services. Contact the SBHC at your child’s school for an enrollment packet and they can assist you with the enrollment process.
School Based Health Centers
Hours of Operation
Typical hours of operation are during the school day, with some sites open just before and some just after school. Please call the specific SBHC location for their hours of operation.
Contact Us
School Based Health Centers
School Health Services
401 Hungerford Drive, 2nd Floor
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Email: Brenda Russo
240-777-1550
SBHC Collaborative Management Team
Brenda Russo
Nurse Administrator
School Based Health Centers, School Health Services
240-777-4492
Etsuko Maruoka
Nurse Manager
School Based Health Centers, School Health Services
240-777-1798
Joan Glick
Senior Nurse Administrator
School Based Health Centers, School Health Services
240-777-1550
A Community School Partnership among:
