​History of The Program

The first school-based health center in Maryland opened in Baltimore City in 1985. Since then, the School-Based Health Center Program has expanded rapidly, delivering comprehensive, coordinated, high-quality health care to students in 17 jurisdictions across the state. Maryland’s school-based health centers provide a wide variety of services, including primary care, sick visits, sports physicals, behavioral and mental health services, oral health services, and care coordination. The school-based health centers work in partnership with each patient’s primary care doctor or pediatrician to ensure they receive the best care possible. In 2021, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future expanded grant funding available for school-based health centers, allowing the Program to expand to additional sites across the state. The School-Based Health Center Program is run by the Maryland Department of Health, Bureau of Maternal and Child Health. ​

Mission

The mission of the SBHCs is to promote and improve the health and safety of all Maryland residents through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement.​ 

Vision

The vision of the Maryland School-Based Health Center Program is that all Maryland students will succeed socially, emotionally and academically to foster lifelong health and wellness. School-based health centers contribute to this vision by promoting health and educational equity through the provision of health care that is accessible, collaborative, high-quality, and based on earned trust.