Role of School-based Health Centers in addressing school dropout: A content analysis

School dropout is epidemic, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities. Located in poor and medically-underserved areas, School-based Health Centers (SBHCs) can play a pivotal role in reducing school dropout through primary prevention, early identification and multidisciplinary interventions. Yet, SBHCs are a largely unrecognized resource. Due to a confluence of factors impacting academic performance in conjunction with methodological limitations, SBHCs are challenged to document their direct contributions to dropout prevention. A targeted initiative in Massachusetts is underway to promote awareness of the role that the health sector, especially SBHCs can play in reducing dropout.

A content analysis of three years (06-07, 07-08, 08-09) of annual reports submitted by 45 Massachusetts SBHCs was conducted to: identify terms and themes typically associated with academic performance, assess integration patterns between SBHCs, schools and communities, and document shifts in SBHC activities to reflect concurrent dropout prevention policy efforts.

Preliminary results indicate three mechanisms through which utilization of SBHC services appear to address academic concerns. 1. Collaborative programs to tackle prevention of health issues most associated with dropout; 2. Early identification of academic risk potential assessed via medical visits; and 3. Referrals to SBHC by school staff for presentation of academic behaviors with possible health linkages. Results also show academic behavior changes following on-going medical treatment. SBHCs are increasingly re-directing and reporting their work associated with academic performance and health-services delivery.

This study offers a more systematic understanding of the pathways through which school dropout can be addressed and modified by collaborative efforts with SBHCs.