Early access to health care services through a rural school-based health center.

School-based health centers (SBHCs) and school-linked health centers (SLHCs) represent relatively new models for health care service delivery. This article examines the question: Are SBHCs accessible as defined by four criteria of accessibility: available, community-based, affordable, and culturally acceptable? A literature review and an examination of a rural SBHC providing care to young children are presented in this paper. Both support the hypothesis that SBHCs are accessible to children and families in the school community. In particular, this SBHC's enrollment rate of 98% and its usage rate of 99% provide strong evidence that SBHCs are culturally acceptable. Ten strategies for a successful SBHC are presented to assist in planning and implementation of other SBHCs.