School-Based Health Centers Isolate Parents From Children’s Medical Treatment
Policies and Legislation Threaten Parental Involvement in Children’s Education and Health Care
Gone are the days when concerns about policies and legislation marginalizing parents from their children’s education and health care were dismissed as mere conspiracy theories. States like Washington and California have actually passed laws that allow children to undergo medical gender-transition procedures without parental knowledge or consent.
Critics argue that the establishment of federally-funded school-based health centers (SBHC) at public schools will only make it easier for the state to secretly treat children without involving their parents. This alarming trend has caught the attention of Stand for Health Freedom (SHF), an organization dedicated to advocating for medical sovereignty.
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Valerie Borek, Associate Director of SHF, expressed concern about the increasing detachment of parents from their child’s healthcare. Unlike school nurses who handle minor ailments, SBHCs function as comprehensive family clinics, providing various health services such as screenings, dental care, vision care, and even assistance with gender transition.
According to SHF, the number of SBHCs in the country has skyrocketed from 31 in 1985 to over 3,000 today. This expansion is expected to continue with the Biden administration’s plan to fund mental health services in schools, using the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting as justification.
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
This push for mental health services led to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a bill signed into law in June 2022. The act aims to double the number of school-based mental health professionals and address the nation’s mental health crisis. It allocated $11 billion for mental health services, including the expansion of SBHCs.
In October 2022, the U.S. Department of Education announced a $280 million grant program to further increase mental health services in schools. However, these developments have raised concerns about parental consent and involvement in their child’s healthcare decisions.
State Resistance
Efforts to resist the expansion of SBHCs have emerged in various states. In Maryland, Informed Choice Maryland (ICM) collaborated with Valerie Borek to defeat two bills—one proposing funding for SBHCs and another seeking to lower the age of consent for vaccinations to 14. ICM highlighted ethical issues with the bills, leading to their withdrawal.
In New Mexico, the Referendum Project aims to repeal several progressive laws, including one that invites SBHCs into the state’s public school system. Concerns have been raised about children being able to undergo gender transitions without parental knowledge or consent.
Similar incidents have been reported in other states, such as Maine, where an SBHC provided a student with antidepressant medication without parental consent. These stories serve as cautionary tales about the potential dangers associated with SBHCs.
‘Administrative Burden’
In June 2023, the U.S. Department of Education proposed a rule that could bypass parental consent for Medicaid billing. This change has raised concerns about parents being unaware of the care their child receives at school. The issue lies in the establishment of a uniform consent process that could potentially grant blanket permission for various treatments.
While the regulation is currently limited, technical guidance published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services facilitates greater access to Medicaid services, including mental health treatment, in schools. This delicate balance between consent and expansion requires close attention.
‘It’s a Moneymaker’
Sloan Rachmuth, president of Education First Alliance NC, highlights the profit potential of SBHCs in North Carolina. Medicaid-eligible children can be directly billed for services, making every school a billing center. However, concerns arise regarding the treatment of mental health issues, including the diagnosis of gender dysphoria, without sufficient parental involvement.
Parents and Americans must remain vigilant and ensure that SBHCs are regulated in a way that prioritizes parental involvement in their child’s healthcare. The potential consequences of neglecting this issue are too significant to ignore.
How do international human rights conventions and the U.S. Constitution recognize and protect the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children?
Such as the violation of parental rights and the lack of informed decision-making for minors.
Similarly, in Ohio, concerned parents have come together to form Parents for Parental Rights (PPR), a grassroots organization that aims to protect parental involvement in their children’s education and healthcare. PPR has been actively advocating against legislation that undermines parental authority and allows for medical procedures without parental consent.
These state resistance movements reflect the growing awareness and concern among parents about the erosion of their rights and authority in their children’s lives. The introduction of policies and legislation that bypass parental consent and involvement raises significant ethical and legal questions.
One of the key arguments made by critics is that parents have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. This right is recognized and protected by international human rights conventions, as well as the U.S. Constitution. By allowing medical procedures and decisions to be made without parental consent, these policies and legislation undermine this fundamental right.
Moreover, critics argue that parents have a unique and irreplaceable role in the health and well-being of their children. They are best positioned to make informed decisions about their child’s healthcare and to provide necessary emotional and psychological support. Excluding parents from these decisions not only disempowers them but also puts the child’s welfare at risk.
Supporters of these policies and legislation argue that they are necessary to ensure access to necessary healthcare services for vulnerable populations, particularly in cases where parents may be neglectful or abusive. While it is important to address such concerns, it should not come at the expense of parents’ rights and involvement.
Finding a balance between ensuring the well-being and safety of children and respecting parental rights is a complex task. It requires careful consideration, dialogue, and collaboration between policymakers, healthcare providers, and parents. Policies and legislation should be designed to promote parental involvement rather than hinder it.
In conclusion, the increasing detachment of parents from their children’s education and healthcare is a concerning trend. Policies and legislation that allow for medical procedures without parental consent undermine parental rights and raise ethical and legal questions. State resistance movements and grassroots organizations have emerged to protect parental involvement and advocate for informed decision-making. Finding a balance between the well-being of children and parental rights is crucial to ensure a healthy and harmonious society.
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