SBHC Standards for Certification Review
The SBHC State Program Office (SPO) has been working over the past several years to “modernize” the SBHC Standards for Certification to (1) identify and address any areas in need of clarification; (2) update sections to align with current best practice: and (3) continue to adapt the Standards to center health equity and youth engagement. This multiyear revision process has involved many steps, including extensive background research, surveys, internal (OHA) and external partner engagement, and youth listening sessions.
In October 2023, the SPO convened an SBHC Standards for Certification Workgroup comprised of SBHC representatives from across the state. The workgroup met nine times to review SPO’s proposed changes to the Standards and provide feedback.
The SPO then asked for feedback from all state certified SBHCs in Spring 2024 on a draft version of the new Standards. SPO integrated this feedback in Summer 2024 to produce the following documents. The first document contains edits to the 2016 Standards, with all edits indicated in track changes. The second document shows the final,* updated Standards, Version 5.
Standards for Certification EDITS with Changes
Standards for Certification, Version 5 - Clean
All Oregon State certified SBHCs will be required to meet the minimum standards outlined in the SBHC Standards for Certification, Version 5 beginning July 1, 2026. SPO will support SBHCs over the next two years to come into compliance with the new requirements.
The SPO has also put together a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to address some common questions about the new requirements. You can access the document here:
The SBHC SPO is incredibly grateful to everyone who leant their time and expertise to this review process. Every step of the revisions was made better by the expertise of so many people who are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of Oregon’s youth, particularly young people themselves!
Background
The first School-Based Health Center Standards for Certification were developed in 2000 by the SPO, Oregon School-Based Health Alliance (OSBHA), and SBHC partners. These Standards have been updated a number of times over the past 15 years, most recently in 2015-2016. For more information, please view the 2016 Oregon SBHC Standards for Certification.
For more information about the Oregon SBHC Standards for Certification revisions, please contact the SBHC SPO: SBHC.Program@ODHSOHA.Oregon.Gov.
* Final pending formal approval from the Conference of Local Health Officials.