Examining the effects of health centers in schools on student health and outcomes
Official title: Understanding the Short- and Long-Term Impacts of School-Based Health Centers
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11133206 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how having health centers in schools helps students stay healthy and do better in school, by making it easier for them to get the care they need, especially for mental health, and it hopes to share what it learns to support more of these centers in schools everywhere.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 2, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $556,806 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD114558-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11133206 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include school-aged children and adolescents who have access to or are served by school-based health centers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not attend schools with health centers or those who are not school-aged may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how school-based health centers (SBHCs) impact the health and well-being of students by providing accessible health care directly in schools. It aims to analyze both short-term and long-term effects on health care utilization, behavioral outcomes, and educational achievements among students. By utilizing extensive data on health care prescriptions and Medicaid claims, the study will assess the effectiveness of SBHCs in improving access to mental health medications and overall health services for school-aged youth. The findings could help inform policies regarding the establishment and funding of SBHCs across the country.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and educational performance for students who utilize school-based health services.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown positive correlations between school-based health centers and improved health care access and educational outcomes, suggesting that this approach has been effective in similar contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schnell, Molly — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Schnell, Molly
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.