The money is intended to allow its grantees, which already treat about 112,000 children, to expand their services and modernize their facilities, according to a department press release. The funding should allow those clinics to serve up to 53,000 additional children in 29 states.
The school-based health centers are designed to allow children with acute and chronic conditions to attend school and also to improve the overall health of the student population. They provide a combination of primary care, mental health care, dental health, nutrition education and other services.
According to HHS, the Affordable Care Act included $200 million in funding from 2010 to 2013 for capital improvements and delivery expansion at school-based health centers. A full list of the clinics receiving grants is available on the department's website.
