New Mexico expands school-based health centers, increasing access to student care

Organ Mountain News report

SANTA FE - School-Based Health Centers in New Mexico continue to expand, increasing access to medical and mental health services for students statewide. The New Mexico Department of Health funds 59 of the more than 80 SBHCs in the state, with additional telehealth and mobile services reaching students at 41 more schools in 2024.

The expansion aims to provide care that helps students remain in the classroom by addressing health concerns on-site. In the 2023-24 school year, SBHCs funded by NMDOH served more than 16,000 patients, according to a department news release.

“All children and adolescents deserve to thrive and grow into the young adults we know they can be. SBHCs bring health care to where students already spend the majority of their time: in school," said Kristin Oreskovich, Clinical Operations Manager of NMDOH’s School-Based Health Center Program. “In many cases, they are in communities with very few other healthcare options.”

SBHCs operate in schools across the state, serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade regardless of their ability to pay. The centers have been providing services in New Mexico for more than 25 years.

Available services include primary and preventive care, treatment for minor and chronic conditions, mental health care, and referrals for additional services such as oral health and vision care.

February marks National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month, highlighting the role of SBHCs in increasing access to care for children and adolescents.

For more information, visit the New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care website.