Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of School and Adolescent Health is to improve the health of all students and adolescents in New Mexico.

For more information

on our programs, projects, the “Head to Toe” conference, and technical assistance, please contact us.

School-Based Health Centers

Keeping Children in School and Ready to Learn

The Office of School and Adolescent Health promotes quality accessible student and community health services through the development and support of School-Based Health Centers. These centers provide comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services by using a multi-disciplinary health team.

One of the many services provided by School-Based Health Centers is reproductive health care and education. For communities where teen birth rates are high, School-Based Health Centers can be supportive partners in teen pregnancy prevention.

The New Mexico SBHC initiative is a collaborative partnership among the following state agencies: New Mexico Department of Health, Public Education Department, Human Services Division, and Children, Youth & Families Department.

The New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care represents school-based health centers in New Mexico and promotes, facilitates, and advocates for comprehensive, culturally competent health care in schools. For more information go to the New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care Website

The mission of the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care ( NASBHC) is to improve the health status of children and youth by advancing and advocating for school-based health care. For more information about the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care go to the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care Website

Telehealth

Expanding the Scope of SBHCs through Telehealth Services

Twenty School-Based Health Centers throughout the state have telehealth service capacity. Telehealth services effectively expand health and behavioral health care to rural and underserved areas. Through telecommunications, consultation and direct services are brought to providers, students and their families when they need it, where they need it, and in their own communities. A telehealth system provides and supports health care delivery, diagnosis, and treatment.

Telephone consultation services are available to primary care and behavioral health providers at most SBHCs. In 2009, video conferencing will be utilized to provide consultation to SBHCs. Video conferencing technology has been installed by Sangre de Cristo Community Health Partnership at the following SBHC sites:

Belen High School
Carlsbad High School
Cuba High School
Deming High School
Des Moines Municipal Schools
Dulce Independent Schools
Espanola – Carlos Vigil Middle School
Gadsden High School
Gadsden MS

Gallup High School
Mescalero Apache School
Mountainair Public School
Pojoaque High School
Roy Municipal Schools
Ruidoso High School
Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools
Shiprock-Career Preparatory Alternative School
Silver City High School
Socorro High School
West Las Vegas High School

The Telehealth Initiative is a collaborative partnership between the New Mexico Department of Health's OSAH and Behavioral Health Services Division, and Sangre de Cristo Community Health Partnership.

SBHC Manual

OSAH is currently developing a School-Based Health Center Manual. Please contact us about its content and publication date.

NM Alliance of SBHC

New Mexico has more than 80 school-based health centers (SBHCs) bringing health care to where students are – in the school. SBHCs provide comprehensive health services, so students can avoid health-related absences and get support to succeed in school. SBHCs give students medical and behavioral health attention when they need it, providing opportunities to catch problems like asthma, diabetes and depression in the early stages and therefore preventing bigger problems later, SBHCs also help with barriers such as transportation to medical sites and parent’s time off work.

The New Mexico Alliance for School-based Health Care (NMASBHC) represents school-based health centers in New Mexico and promotes, facilitates, and advocates for comprehensive, culturally competent health care in school. For more information on NMASBHC go to the New Mexico Allicance for School-Based Care Website

National Assembly of SBHC

The National Assembly of School-based Health Care’s (NASBHC) mission is to improve the health status of children and youth by advancing and advocating for school-based health care. For more information, go to the NASBHC website

SBHC Medicaid Billing

New Mexico Human Services Department Medicaid School-Based Services Program

“We know that healthy kids are better learners – and School-Based Health Centers provide much-needed access to essential health and behavioral health services that help keep kids healthy, in school and graduating. SBHC services are culturally competent and geared toward youth. Let’s show our commitment to our kids’ success by helping ensure that every community that wants a SBHC gets one!"

-- Patsy Nelson, President, NM Alliance for School-Based Health Care