Statewide Coalition advocates for school-based health care in Ohio SFY 26-27 budget

The Ohio Alliance and more than 40 healthcare and education leaders across the state shared their collective support for strengthening the reach and impact of school-based health centers in the final deliberations for House Bill 96, the state operating budget.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to be healthy and ready to learn. School-based health centers make that possible, especially in areas where access to care is limited. Investment in these centers goes straight to the heart of what matters most—our kids.” said Reem Aly, Executive Director of the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance (Ohio Alliance).

The coalition letter released today (read the coalition letter here) urges leadership across both chambers to take the following priority actions:

• Restore funding for school-based health centers in high-need counties to $10 million per state fiscal year. This level of funding supports school-based health center expansion into as many as 10 additional underserved counties — giving thousands more children access to critical healthcare services that support academic achievement and long-term health and well-being.

  
  

• Preserve Senate consent language allowing parents, legal guardians, grandparents acting under Ohio law, and other authorized individuals to consent to a child’s care. Preserving this language in the final budget ensures barriers are removed that would have otherwise delayed or prevented children from receiving care at an SBHC.

“Now is the time to build on the momentum across Ohio.” Aly stated. “Communities are ready, partnerships are in place, and school-based health care is making a difference. This funding and policy clarity will improve health and education outcomes for thousands of children.”

The letter also outlines support for targeted strategies that strengthen Ohio’s school-based health care infrastructure, including establishing a statewide SBHC data hub and restoring funding for children’s vision and dental services as proposed in the Executive Budget.

Organizations signing on to the letter include healthcare providers, school districts, education service centers, trade associations, county health departments, and advocacy groups around the state.

The Ohio School-Based Health Alliance (“Ohio Alliance”) is the only nonpartisan, nonprofit, statewide organization created to advance the sustainability and expansion of school-based health care — supporting school-based health care partners through capacity building, policy transformation, and data tracking and evaluation.