In October 2015, MASBHC was proud to be instrumental in the passing of Maryland House Bill 375 which created the Maryland Council on Advancement of School Based Health Centers (Council). The Maryland State Department of Education, with staff support from MASBHC, will be working to oversee the Council which was launched to replace the former Maryland Policy Advisory Committee on School Based Health Centers.
The purpose of the Council is to improve the health and educational outcomes of students who receive services from School-Based Health Centers by advancing the integration of School-Based Health Centers into the health care system at the state and local levels and the educational system at the state and local levels. The Council membership includes parents, principals, and SBHC clinicians. State agencies and organizations represented on the Council include:
- Maryland State Senate
- Maryland House of Delegates
- Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Maryland State Department of Education
- Maryland Health Benefit Exchange
- Maryland Community Health Resources Commission
- Maryland Association of Boards of Education
- Managed Care Organizations
- Public Schools Superintendents Association of Maryland
- Maryland Assembly on School Based Health Care
- Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals
- Maryland Association of County Health Officers
The Council will work to ensure that SBHCs are more interconnected to the health care system. The Council will provide recommendations to improve the integration of SBHCs into the Maryland health care system; to sustain and expand the network of SBHCs across the state; and promote the impact of SBHCs upon student health and academic outcomes.
For more information about the Council including upcoming meeting dates, please visit the MSDE website.