Major and Classification
Neuroscience
Faculty Mentor
- LaVonna Lewis, Ph.D., M.P.H
Department
- Policy, Planning and Development
McNair Project
The Perceived Effectiveness of a Los Angeles School-Based Health Center: A Case Study
In the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of school-based health centers throughout the nation. California, in particular, currently has 146 school health centers where students and occasionally school faculty, staff, and the general public can receive health services such as immunizations, primary level health care, mental health care, reproductive health care, and health education. In this case-study, an on-site clinic at “Orange” School will be examined to study its usage and determine the perceived effectiveness of the clinic, according to school administrators, teachers, clinic staff, and parents. A school without a clinic, “Pineapple” School, will be compared to Orange to determine what components are necessary to establish and run a similar clinic successfully. Assessing the effects of current SBHCs is important to verify that the clinics are fulfilling their purpose of improving the health of the school communities they serve and making improvements when necessary. After examining Orange School, it was found that a lack of student usage and advertising of the clinic to the school community caused staff and faculty to perceive the clinic as ineffective in improving the health of students. It was also determined that Pineapple school would not be a good candidate for establishing a SBHC because of its lack of space, low perceived need, small school enrollment, and need to fulfill other priorities.