School-based health centers are health clinics serving elementary, middle, and high schools throughout King County. In addition to primary care, these school-based health centers also offer mental and behavioral healthcare to students. Public Health will be able to significantly expand mental health services at school-based health centers serving middle and high schools in Seattle thanks to an annual $5.6 million investment from the City of Seattle beginning in school year 2024-2025. This expansion includes hiring 21 new mental health therapists to provide counseling to students, doubling the staffing capacity of the mental health services at school-based health centers in Seattle’s middle and high schools.
The first school-based health center in the Auburn School District opened at Mountainview High School on March 7. The center offers health services such as annual check-ups, asthma care, and mental health counseling to students, usually for no cost.
School-based health centers offer a broad range of health care supports for students that may otherwise be difficult to access in their communities. At the health centers, overseen by Public Health—Seattle & King County, students can get mental health care, immunizations, family planning, and other care in the context of a school environment.
Health centers will open on 34 school campuses in King County this September, to provide health services for students – including flu shots and other vaccines – even when the instruction is online.
High school students from across King County are carrying a powerful health message to their peers. They are talking about human papillomavirus (HPV), the cancers it can cause, and why it is so important for teens to get vaccinated against HPV. The HPV Vaccine Champion Summit, recently hosted by Public Health – Seattle & King […]
