Impact of School-Based Health Center Use on Academic Outcomes
Received 10 April 2009; accepted 1 July 2009. published online 28 August 2009. Corrected Proof
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to examine the effects of School-Based Health Center (SBHC) use on academic outcomes for high school students, using a well-controlled, longitudinal model, and (2) to examine whether SBHC medical and mental health service use differentially impacts academic outcomes.
Methods
Analyses used a latent variable growth curve modeling approach to examine longitudinal outcomes over five school semesters for ninth grade SBHC users and nonusers from Fall 2005 to Fall 2007 (n = 2,306). Propensity score analysis was used to control for self-selection factors in the SBHC user and nonuser groups.
Results
Results indicated a significant increase in attendance for SBHC medical users compared to nonusers. Grade point average increases over time were observed for mental health users compared to nonusers. Discipline incidents were not found to be associated with SBHC use.
Conclusions
SBHC use was associated with academic improvements over time for a high-risk group of users. The moderating effect of type of use (medical and mental health) reinforces the importance of looking at subgroups when determining the impact of SBHC use on outcomes.
aSchool of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
bPublic Health—Seattle and King County, Seattle, Washington
Address correspondence to: Sarah Cusworth Walker, Ph.D., Division of Public Behavioral Health & Justice Policy, University of Washington, 2815 Eastlake Avenue, Ste 200, Seattle, WA 98102.
ABSTRACT