The University of Utah Department of Pediatrics has partnered with the Salt Lake City School District and the Saltly Lake Education Foundation to operate a school-based health center at West High School designed to improve access to mental, physical, and behavioral healthcare for students.
Benefits for students and families
The clinic addresses the needs of patients between the ages of 12 and 19 by providing services on campus to overcome obstacles such as transportation, cost, and time constraints. According to University of Utah Health, offering health services in a school setting allows students to spend three times more time in the classroom because they can access care during school hours without parents needing to miss work.
Available medical services and staff
The facility is staffed by University of Utah Health employees, including faculty, staff, residents, and graduate students. Medical services available at the clinic include pediatrics, internal medicine pediatrics, dentistry, psychiatry, psychology, and social work.
Funding and school renovation plans
The West High School Clinic is part of a larger development plan funded by a $735 million bond secured by the Salt Lake City School District, which will allow for the complete rebuilding of both West High School and Highland High School. The Salt Lake Education Foundation is tasked with raising $2 million for the interior construction of each clinic.
Impact on mental health outcomes
Research regarding school-based health centers indicates that students with access to these programs are 21 times more likely to access mental health services and less likely to experience depressive episodes or suicide attempts. The clinic is intended to support the community rather than replace a student's current medical provider or the school nurse's office.
