COMMUNITY REACTIONS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH-CARE AT 3 SCHOOL-BASED CLINICS IN LOUISIANA

Despite the growing success of school-based health care during the pas t two decades, the issue of providing reproductive health care at scho ol-based health centers remains controversial. In this article, focus group data from three school-based centers in Louisiana, each in diffe rent stages of development, demonstrates how the controversies:es abou t reproductive health may frame more general concerns about school-bas ed care. In addition, community readiness to address directly problema tic sexual behavior relates not only to the specific needs and priorit ies of the community, but to recognition of the negative effect of the consequences of sexual behavior such as pregnancy, high drop out, and absenteeism rates on a community's educational, rather than social, g oals and values.