title: Health-care reform and school-based health care.
abstract: There is growing recognition that health and health care at school can significantly impact children's health. From childhood obesity interventions to new immunization mandates, schools are at the forefront of child health discussions. The 2008 presidential campaign and the renewed focus on health-care reform raise the possibility that in 2009 school health will play a larger role in health policy conversations than previously. This article explores the proposition that both school health and national health policy will benefit from closer attention to the role of school health within the U.S. health system. It offers a Maryland case study to suggest both the opportunities and operational challenges of linking school health to the larger community health system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prevention and Community Health, Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC 20037, USA. jgl@gwu.edu
authors.forename: Julia Graham
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lear
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Barnwell
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Behrens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012574:Schools; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013334:Students; D014481:United States