Build Healthy Futures: Support Health in Schools

We are almost one month out from the 2013 National School-Based Health Care Convention, which will be held in Washington, DC June 23 – 26. Because of donors like you, this year we are able to bring our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) to Washington, DC to participate in the Youth Track and Advocacy Day. (Read their bios here.)

The five members of the first-ever council will join 25 other Youth Track attendees to learn about the health and policy issues associated with school-based health centers and develop their leadership and advocacy skills. Two members of the YAC, Jhana and Tyler, will join Members of Congress and leaders from the school-based health care movement to speak out at a rally before heading to Capitol Hill on Advocacy Day. It is sure to be an experience they will never forget. Thank you for making it possible by supporting NASBHC on Global Giving.

- NASBHC staff

P.S. Do you know any youth who would be interested to learn more about advocacy and school-based health care? Scholarships are still available to attend the 2013 Youth Track. 

Links:

• http://www.nasbhc.org/convention

Thank you for supporting NASBHC! We are excited to keep the momentum going after an excellent year in 2012. There are many exciting things on the horizon for 2013, starting with this month – National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month!

February is National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month!

Communities across the nation are celebrating National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month. School-based health centers (SBHCs) are redefining health for kids and teens by providing access to mental health services and oral health care, working to prevent obesity, and addressing other issues that affect young people’s lives.

There are many ways for you to get involved in this year's Awareness Month. Whether you’re writing a letter to the editor, setting up a tour of a SBHC, or just want to share your story, you’ll find resources on our Awareness Month webpage.

NASBHC Writes to Administration in Response to Gun Violence Reduction Policy Proposal

NASBHC wrote to Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan urging them to look to SBHCs as they strive to meet the goals of the “Now is the Time” gun violence reduction proposal – a set of 23 actions and recommendations to minimize gun violence and its causes in response to Newtown, Connecticut.

We encourage SBHC advocates to forward the letter or send your own comments to Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan at externalaffairs@hhs.gov and OESE@ed.gov.

NASBHC Interviews Candidates for Youth Advisory Council

NASBHC completed interviews with several incredible young people from across the country for our first-ever National Youth Advisory Council. In the coming weeks we will select the council members and conduct our first meeting – just in time to plan for the Youth Track at the 2013 National School-Based Health Care Convention.

Save The Date – 2013

The 2013 National School-Based Health Care Convention will be held at The Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC, June 23-26. This year will feature an Advocacy Day, where hundreds of SBHC advocates will meet with their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill in support of school-based health care!

NASBHC’s Advocacy Day is always one of the highlights of the Washington, DC-based convention and this year will be no different. The day starts with a breakfast rally at the hotel. Speakers will include SBHC Hill champions. Following the high-energy rally, advocates will travel to the Hill by Metro to meet with their representatives to speak on behalf of vulnerable children and adolescents. NASBHC will prepare advocates with webinars in advance of the convention and advocacy “office hours” with NASBHC’s policy and communications staff. We look forward to seeing you in June!