BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents exposed to chronic trauma have a greater risk for mental health disorders and

Background: Minority racial/ethnic pediatric populations and those living in poverty are at greater risk of exposure to trauma, development of mental health disorders, and school failure yet are less likely to have access to mental health services (MHS). School-based health centers (SBHCs) staffed with mental health providers may be one strategy for decreasing health care disparities.

School-based health centers (SBHCs) are an important component of health care reform. The SBHC model of care offers accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, and compassionate care to infants, children, and adolescents. These same elements comprise the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model of care being promoted by the Affordable Care Act with the hope of lowering health care costs by rewarding clinicians for primary care services. PCMH survey tools have been developed to help payers determine whether a clinician/site serves as a PCMH. Our concern is that current survey tools will be unable to capture how a SBHC may provide a medical home and therefore be denied needed funding. This article describes how SBHCs might meet the requirements of one PCMH tool. SBHC stakeholders need to advocate for the creation or modification of existing survey tools that allow the unique characteristics of SBHCs to qualify as PCMHs.

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Nearly half of 5- to 17-year-olds have experienced trauma in the form of at-school victimization. Exposure to trauma increases students' risk for mental health disorders and school failure. This study reviews at-school victimization in middle and high school students and associated health outcomes that may negatively impact academic outcomes. Analyzing the California Healthy Kids Survey 2010, we examine rates of victimization on school grounds, substance use, and symptoms of depression and eating disorders among a sample of 6th to 12th graders ( N = 639,925). Between 20% and 50% of students had experienced at least one type of victimizing event on school grounds, with the highest incidence in middle schools. A significantly higher share of victimized students reported using substances, symptoms of depression and eating disorders when compared to nonvictimized students. School district investment in school nurses, social workers, and school-based health centers could increase preventive interventions to improve school climate, student well-being, and academic success.