Glenbrook School Health Center

The purpose of a school health center is to provide students and staff members with access to quality medical care that supports their health and keeps them in school.  The Glenbrook School Health Center (GSHC) is designed to complement the services offered by the school nurse for students who may need more complex care.

By implementing a school health center, going to the doctor as simple as walking down the hall, using the available time before and after school or during an SRT period. This keeps students and staff in school without needing to miss a class..  With an emphasis on prevention, early intervention, and risk reduction, school-based health centers seek to improve students' overall physical and emotional health regardless of the ability to pay.

The National Associate of School Nurses and the School-Based Health Alliance recently issued a joint statement answering the question, “What happens when school nurses and school-based health centers work together?”  Their answer included the following,

• Students’ health, overall well-being, and academic success improve;
• Students acquire the health knowledge and skills they need to become independent in providing self-care;
• School absence rates decrease, and graduation rates increase;
• Student access to equitable health care increases, including health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management; and
• Continuity of care occurs when health professionals coordinate student health needs.  This frees educators to focus on teaching and allows parents/caregivers to remain at work.
   

Any student currently enrolled in Glenbrook High School District 225 is eligible to visit the school-based health center. In addition, the center may be accessed by District 225 staff members,

District 225’s agreement with Advocate Aurora Health indicates that the Glenbrook School Health Center will only provide services to students under 18 if they have a signed parental consent form on file. Families may complete the consent form online or pick up a paper copy at the center during normal hours of operation.  Students under the age of 18 must have a signed consent form in order to be seen.

Students at Glenbrook North or Glenbrook Off Campus who need transportation to Glenbrook South during the school day may request that service when scheduling an appointment.  Please note that arranging transportation may require 24 hours notice

The medical team also offers services for staff members of the district. Services may include accessing biometric wellness screenings, general check-ups, and commonly used prescriptions.

All medical and mental health appointments, including on-site testing services, are provided at no cost.  There may be a nominal charge for vaccinations for those not eligible for the federally funded Vaccines for Children program.

If a student or staff member needs a service outside the scope of services available at the Glenbrook School Health Center, the Advocate Health staff will offer a referral. Advocate Health uses a referral database and established list of professionals for medical and mental health service referrals.

Medical records remain confidential between the patient, family and our operating partner.  Parents may authorize information to be shared with the school by completing a separate consent form available from the GSHC staff.

The Glenbrook School-Based Health Center will have two expenses: 

• A one-time cost for the construction and purchase of furnishings for the health center space at Glenbrook South; and
• An annual expense to pay for the operating costs of the health center.

One-time Costs

Through the support of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and State Senator Laura Fine, the school district was awarded a one-time grant for $250,000 for facilities and equipment expenses.  This funding was made possible through Congress's 2021 Community Project Funding process and was recently approved as part of the recent Omnibus spending bill.  

Additionally, the school district received unanticipated, unbudgeted reimbursements from FEMA for $1.09 M, for previously submitted COVID-19 expenses, which can supplement the one-time construction costs with a school-based health center.

Ongoing Costs

Except for providing general janitorial/maintenance and technology support, the costs of operating a health center are contained to general supplies and personnel. Most school health centers are operated as a partnership between the school and a community health organization. It is estimated that operating a health center will cost between $350,000 and $450,000 per year. This estimate has been developed after an extensive financial review of two, similarly-situated school-based health centers in our region.

In terms of financial responsibility, the school district is responsible for funding the health services and/or securing operating grants from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the federal government, the State of Illinois, and community-based organizations.