Full Service Schools: Revolution or Fad?

During the past decade, a plethora of new school-based models for enhancing the life chances of adolescents have emerged. The term full service schools encompasses school-based primary health clinics, youth service programs, community schools, and other innovative efforts to improve access to health and social services. These programs have in common the use of school facilities for delivering services through partnerships with community agencies; a shared vision of youth development; and financial support from sources outside school systems, particularly states and foundations. Organizing a school-based initiative requires careful planning to involve school personnel, community agencies, parents, and students. Evaluation is still preliminary; scattered results are encouraging in regard to utilization of and access to needed health and mental health care; dropout, substance abuse, and pregnancy prevention; and improved attendance. This evolving field of school-based intervention creates new opportunities f...