Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $4 Million for Oregon School-based Health Centers

Washington, DC – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded over $4 million to twelve school-based health centers across Oregon to expand access to quality health care to children while at school. Funding for these awards comes from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.   

 “Investments in preventive health care like health screenings, health promotion, and disease prevention activities are a key to making our families healthy,” said Merkley.  “If you want to help get kids healthy, you go where the kids are: at school.  Providing resources to school-based health centers will ensure Oregon children get the care they need so they can succeed in the classroom.”

“Early, accessible and targeted investments in the well-being of Oregon’s children set the cornerstone for a path of lifelong health,” said Wyden. “Expanding preventative health care in schools means healthier kids and less hassle for working parents and big savings for Oregon families.”

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act appropriated a total of $200 million for 2010 through 2013 for the School-Based Health Center Capital Program to address capital needs in school-based health centers.  The funds announced today are the first in the series of awards that will be made available to school-based health centers under the Affordable Care Act. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) oversees the program. A list of today’s awardees includes:

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