North Carolina Student Community Health Alliance (NCSCHA) LogoNorth Carolina Student Community Health Alliance (NCSCHA)

Administration

Credentialed Centers are comprehensive school-based and school-linked health centers that are in compliance with the North Carolina Quality Assurance Standards for School-Based and School-Linked Health Centers and meet the requirements in a Memorandum of Agreement within the NC Department of Health and Human Services, between the Division of Public Health and Division of Medical Assistance.

To be credentialed, centers must at a minimum:

  1. Operate daily at regularly scheduled hours when school is in session
  2. Have either an MD, an NP or PA, appropriately supervised by an MD, providing services on-site during the majority of hours of operation
  3. Have an RN present when an NP/PA or MD is not on the premises

The required scope of services for credentialed comprehensive centers is as follows:

  1. Preventive health services
    1. Health risk screening/assessment according to clinical practice guidelines using Bright Futures, GAPS, or an equivalent screening tool
    2. Physical examinations
    3. Counseling and/or referral and follow-up related to conditions or identified risk factors
  2. Medical services
    1. Diagnosis of illnesses or injuries by a physician or mid-level practitioner
    2. Treatment and/or follow-up of illnesses or injuries by a physician or mid-level practitioner
  3. Nutrition services
    1. Prevention, screening and anticipatory guidance
    2. Basic treatment of a short term nature
    3. Medical nutrition therapy
    4. Providers that meet the professional requirements for the services they provide
  4. Mental Health services
    1. Prevention, screening and anticipatory guidance
    2. Psychosocial assessment
    3. Treatment planning
    4. Crisis intervention
    5. Short-term therapy (individual, group, family)
    6. Referral and follow-up
    7. Providers that meet the professional qualifications for the services they provide

The center must be in full compliance with program and Medicaid-based standards that cover the following seven areas:

  1. Relationships with collaborating agencies
  2. Access to services
  3. Scope of services
  4. Personnel management
  5. Management of medical records
  6. Environmental safety and fiscal management
  7. Quality assurance

Credentialed Centers increase access to health care for school aged adolescents, ages 10 to 19, by providing comprehensive, primary and preventive health care services on or near school locations in collaboration with individual schools, Local Education Agencies (school districts), health care providers, and other agencies and community-based organizations. Credentialed Centers address a wide range of health challenges and needs facing adolescents including acute and chronic illnesses, injuries, fitness, overweight, underweight, substance abuse, and other medical and mental health risk factors and conditions.

For more information on becoming a Credentialed Center, please contact Daniel Garson-Angert, School Health Center Program Coordinator, Children and Youth Branch, Division of Public Health.

Dan Garson-Angert
NC DHHS, Division of Public Health
5601 Six Forks Road, Building 2, Floor 3
Raleigh, NC 27609-3811
(919) 702-5665