About the Washington School-Based Health Alliance

We strive for a racially just and inclusive society where all children, regardless of background, have the opportunity to thrive. By addressing inequities in health and education, we work toward a future where every child succeeds.

Our Vision and Mission

We strive for a racially just and inclusive society where all children, regardless of background, have the opportunity to thrive. By addressing inequities in health and education, we work toward a future where every child succeeds.

Our mission is to advocate for and advance school-based health care in collaboration with communities and partners statewide. By fostering equity, we aim to remove barriers to essential care and academic achievement for children and youth.

Our Commitment to Equity

Equity is at the core of our work. We address systemic barriers impacting marginalized communities through policy change, community support, and capacity-building. Our vision of a racially just society guides every initiative, ensuring that our efforts benefit those who need them most.

Together with our partners, the Washington School-Based Health Alliance is shaping a future where school-based health care is essential to health and academic equity, creating brighter opportunities for all Washington children and youth.

Our Organizational Values

• TRUST – We work to earn the trust of BIPOC communities (children and youth accessing our SBHCs) by centering their voices, listening, and taking responsive action, especially for those who have historically been silenced and marginalized by systemic racism. We educate and raise awareness of SBHCs and anti-racist practices in school-based health care.
• RESPECT – We respect the importance of privacy, comfort, and safety, especially by honoring the history and cultures of the people we serve.
• COLLABORATION – We are intentional and responsive to our partnerships so that we may elevate and center BIPOC children, youth, families, and providers.
• ACCESS – We are committed to advocating for health care that is accessible and affordable for all children and youth, especially those in communities facing the greatest racial and economic injustice, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
• COMMITMENT – We are committed to eliminating systemic racism by focusing our advocacy and policy efforts on advancing equity for BIPOC children and youth, and by promoting anti-racist practices in school-based health care.
• ACCOUNTABILITY – We hold ourselves and decision-makers accountable to the communities we serve by advocating for SBHCs in places where BIPOC children and youth have the least access to health care, and by building capacity to actively practice anti-racism in school-based health care.

Affiliation

The Washington School-Based Health Alliance is a state affiliate of the national School-Based Health Alliance in Washington DC.  We are among over 20 state affiliates and other partner organizations joining forces with the national Alliance to strengthen school-based health care on behalf of children, adolescents, and their families.

The School-Based Health Alliance and state partner organizations form a coalition and grassroots movement to advance federal policy supportive of school-based health care. In addition, this network of peer organizations shares valuable information, resources, and lessons learned across states to strengthen our collective efforts across the country.