Using school health centers to help students who miss school often
Official title: Examining School-Based Health Centers as Vehicles for Health Equity among Chronically Absent Students
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11124037 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how school-based health centers can help kids aged 0-11 who often miss school because of health problems, especially those from underserved communities, by making it easier for them to get the care they need and helping them do better in school.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | June 24, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $633,447 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD018634-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124037 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are chronically absent from school, especially those from low-income or marginalized communities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are consistently attending school and do not face barriers to accessing healthcare may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how school-based health centers (SBHCs) can support students who frequently miss school due to health issues. It focuses on children aged 0-11 years who are chronically absent, particularly from marginalized backgrounds. The study aims to identify whether these centers can improve access to healthcare, address chronic conditions like asthma and obesity, and enhance academic performance by reducing the need for students to miss school for medical appointments. By analyzing healthcare utilization and academic outcomes over five years, the research seeks to provide insights into the effectiveness of SBHCs in promoting health equity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health and academic outcomes for students who struggle with chronic absenteeism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that school-based health interventions can improve health outcomes, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dudovitz, Rebecca N — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Dudovitz, Rebecca N
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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.