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321678
Evaluating elements of sustainability in school-based health centers in San Diego, CA


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Stephanie Navarro, BA
Dorothy Zirkle, RN, PHN, PhD, School of Nursing, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
The United States is facing a surge in the number of school-based health centers (SBHCs) due to their great success in delivering positive health outcomes and increasing access to care, as well as because of federal financing of new SBHCs as a directive of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  While much of this surge is fueled by research that has examined the many benefits of SBHCs, little research has examined methods of sustaining SBHCs such that these benefits are preserved.  This research was designed to answer the questions: what factors influence the sustainability of SBHCs?  Specifically, which critical components of community health program sustainability remain critical in the SBHC setting? And what additional factors are necessary to sustain SBHCs that are not needed for community health programs?  Building upon established theories of community health program sustainability, this research examines a case study of three SBHCs in San Diego, California to assess program elements that contribute to, or that harm, longevity.  This study was conducted using a mixed methods design that draws upon data from interviews with stakeholders and community members, observations in the SBHCs, and SBHC budget data to gauge community perceptions of program longevity, analyze elements of sustainability in current operations, and evaluate financial stability. Findings from this research were used to contribute to a conceptual framework of SBHC sustainability that has supported the creation of evidence-based guidelines for building and operating sustainable SBHCs.

Learning Areas:

Administration, management, leadership
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Program planning
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Identify critical elements of school-based health centers necessary to sustain this specific type of health center. Design a framework of sustainability to put in practice in new and existing school-based health centers. Formulate an ideal school-based health center model in terms of ensuring sustainability of the clinic. Compare sustainability elements and overall potential sustainability across school-based health centers and school-based health center models.

Keyword(s): School-Based Health, Community Health Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have completed this research as my undergraduate honors thesis and have been engaged in this work for the majority of my undergraduate career. I have had academic mentors at Stanford University and San Diego State University review my work and advise the rigor of my methods and findings. I have also had extensive experience working with school-based health centers and shadowing through both a clinical and administrative lens.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4286.0: School-Based Health Centers: Research and Outcomes