Third party reimbursement is not adequate to cover the full cost of services. Certain behavioral health services, case management services, and health education services may not be reimbursable at all. Therefore, to sustain quality services, SBHCs must have stable ongoing state, federal, private and community partners. May include students eligible but not yet enrolled in RIte Care. The Departments of Health and Education, building on their joint responsibility for school health programs, are developing a coordinated strategy to help local school departments support comprehensive services in all schools for the early school years.
Youth services provide quality after school care for youth including preventive services.
In the adolescent years, comprehensive SBHCs can respond to teen risks and needs. When SBHCs, COZs, youth services and other family support systems are linked, they form district wide health and social service systems of care for families, children and teens. The Rhode Island Department of Health goal is to assist RI communities to establish SBHCs, linked to other social support systems, in Rhode Island's urban high schools. An alliance of teens, concerned citizens, schools, businesses, hospitals, universities, faith communities, and other key neighborhood stakeholders, partnering with government, can make this initiative a long-term success.