Senate Leadership
August 7, 2009
Democrats: Cuts to School-Based Health Centers Could Put Students at Risk This Fall
Health center cuts another example of how governor is hurting children and families, while protecting the wealthy
Senator Williams listens as Melissa Gaulin explains how school-based health centers at Kelly Middle School, where her son receives services, and her daughter’s elementary school, directly effects her ability to support her family. (August 7, 2009)
State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) says that as the new school year approaches and fears about swine flu mount, it is the wrong time to cut funding for school-based health centers (SBHCs) which help immunize students and protect them from epidemics.
The FY 08-09 budget provided $1.47 million of funding to expand school-based health center services to meet the increasing needs of students, including adding dental care services to some communities. Gov. Rell has already eliminated all funding for school-based health centers in July and August, and has proposed eliminating a continuation of last year’s expanded funding for the centers, which serve children and students in medically underserved parts of Connecticut.
“School-based health centers are critical for the delivery of health care to children and families,” said Senator Williams. “There are many children in the area who don’t have health insurance or access to health care — the school-based health centers are their only option. As the new school year approaches and concerns about swine flu and other epidemics mount, I am deeply concerned that these cuts could put children and families at risk.”
Senator Williams was joined at news conference at Kelly Middle School in Norwich by Tom Gulotta, CEO, Child & Family Agency, New London (sponsoring organization of SBHCs in New London, Groton, Norwich); Dr. Vijay Sikand, Medical Director of Child & Family Agency; Kathy Sinnett, APRN, nurse practitioner in Kelly Middle School SBHC; Melissa Gaulin, a mother and her child who has used SBHC services at Kelly Middle School; and Jesse White-Fresé, Executive Director, CT Association of School Based Health Centers.
The state's 75 school-based health centers provide mandated school entry physicals, immunizations, treatment for illness and injury, mental health counseling, and essential support services that enable students to attend school and function to their fullest potential. Most of the health centers serve children who are unable to obtain these necessary services in their communities, and most of them are located in priority school districts. School-based health centers represent the ultimate safety net for children’s health care needs.
Jesse White-Fresé said, “The proposed cut to school-based health center funding in the Governor’s budget will result in the loss of staff, reduced hours of operation, and diminished services at a time when families are facing loss of employment and insurance coverage and need the centers more than ever. In addition, as the governor herself has stated, school children will be among the first to receive the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. It is very puzzling how school-based health centers, a key partner and safety net provider, are supposed to assist in this effort when funding is reduced at this most critical time.”
A list of of school-based health center sites in Connecticut is available in this PDF download.
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Senator Looney’s Derek Slap |
