C.R.S. § 25-20.5-501: Legislative declaration.

(1) The general assembly finds that:

(a) Access to school-based primary health care for children and adolescents has been shown to increase the use of primary care, reduce the use of emergency rooms, and result in fewer hospitalizations;

(b) High-risk students who use school-based health centers are more likely to stay in school and be available for instruction;

(c) School-based health centers are effective at managing health conditions, such as asthma;

(d) School-based health centers serve primarily low-income schools. The majority of students who attend schools with on-site health centers are from low-income families, are medically uninsured or underinsured, and qualify for free or reduced-cost school lunch.

(e) For students from populations primarily served through school-based health centers who do not have access to school-based health care, increasing access to school-linked health-care services will help improve health outcomes for these medically underserved students and their families; and

(f) School-based health centers and school-linked health-care services complement existing school health services and school nursing programs.