Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center Awarded Grant Funds for School-Based Health Services

Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center has been awarded $572,927 in funding to provide coordinated, culturally sensitive, and developmentally appropriate health care services at school-based health center (SBHC) sites at five elementary schools in the region – three in Hamden and two in West Haven - beginning with the current school year:

• Helen Street School in Hamden, a Pre-School to Grade 6 elementary school, the only neighborhood walking school in the public school district;
• Ridge Hill School in Hamden, a K-6 public elementary school with a culturally and socio-economically diverse student body;
• Dunbar Hill School in Hamden, home to approximately 300 students in Grades K through 6, a Pre-K program, and the district’s High Road program;
• Savin Rock Community School in West Haven, a Pre-K to Grade 4 elementary school that is home to approximately 480 high need students; and
• Washington Elementary School in West Haven, a K to Grade 4 elementary school with a culturally diverse student body of about 330 students.

Photo byFree Images

SBHCs are partnerships between schools and community health organizations to provide health care where students spend most of their time – in schools. Parents or guardians provide consent for their children to receive care.

The funding was made possible by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, which chose the School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA), the national voice for school-based health, to administer the funds. Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center’s proposal was selected from 133 applications submitted by 24 sponsoring organizations (such as school districts, community health organizations, behavioral health organizations, or nonprofits) after a competitive review process. It is one of 20 organizations statewide chosen for funding at more than 90 sites to improve students’ access to health care.

Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center will work to address students' needs through this funding. The Helen Street School award is for integrated primary medical and behavioral health services; the awards pertaining to Ridge Hill, Dunbar Hill, Savin Rock and Washington Elementary schools are for behavioral health services. Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center staff will collaborate with the school nurse, school counselor, and school administrators in providing services at each of the schools.

“These awards reflect recognition of our commitment to the children attending these schools and their healthcare needs,” said Michael R. Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center. “Good health is essential to learning, and we look forward to working in close collaboration with school staff in the best interests of all the children.”

The SBHA funding will increase the number of schools in the region where CS-HHC is providing school-based healthcare services from 12 to 17, as of the 2023-24 school year.

To learn more about the organizations and sites throughout Connecticut that received SBHC funding, visit SBHA’s website. More information about Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, visit the CS-HHC website.