California School-Based Health Alliance

The California School-Based Health Alliance (CSHA) is leading California's movement to put health care in schools because we believe this is an innovative way to make sure that all kids get health care and have their best chance to succed. School health centers provide K-12 students with medical, mental health, and oral health services, as well as youth development programs. They are located in disadvantaged communities with large numbers of uninsured children. There are currently 183 school health centers in California, with another 40 on the way. These growing numbers indicate the popularity of school health centers and their value in improving the health of children and youth.

Since hiring our first paid staff in 2003, CSHA has grown to an annual budget of more than $1.5 million and 12 staff. During this time, the number of school health centers in California has grown from 108 to 200. Our large network of collaborating partners includes school health centers, school districts, federally qualified health centers, dozens of state and local policy organizations, and an e-communications network of more than 2,000 individuals.

Our work focuses on three major areas:

• Advocating for public policies that enable more students to have access to health care in their schools.
• Helping school districts and health care providers start and operate schools health centers.
• Raising public awareness of the way in which school health centers can transform schools and health care to better equip today's students for healthy, productive adulthood.