Overview
Health Services: Services provided for students to appraise, protect, and promote health. These services are designed to ensure access or referral to primary health care services or both, foster appropriate use of primary health care services, prevent and control communicable disease and other health problems, provide emergency care for illness or injury, promote and provide optimum sanitary conditions for a safe school facility and school environment, and provide educational and counseling opportunities for promoting and maintaining individual, family, and community health. Qualified professionals such as physicians, nurses, dentists, health educators, and other allied health personnel provide these services.
Vision Screening Guidelines for Children Ages 3 and Older
Vision screening is strongly recommended for children age three and older. Conducting vision screening can lead to early detection and correction of vision problems which positively impacts a child’s opportunity for academic success and learning potential. Therefore, ADHS in conjunction with others have developed Vision Screening Guidelines. In addition, the Sensory Program funds a train the trainer program for vision screening.
Arizona Department of Health Services web site
Recommended Vision Screening Guidelines
Height & Weight Requirements
It is general practice for school districts across the state of Arizona to measure and record the height and weight of each student each year and record these measurements in the student's health file. Given the alarming obesity statistics across the country, it is also recommended, though not required, that schools calculate and record each student's BMI (Body Mass Index). Each district should determine whether or not they will calculate and/or notify parents of BMI results that are in the overweight and/or obese categories. If a district elects to notify parents of BMI scores indicating overweight and/or obese status and the accompanying health risks, a policy and procedure should be developed along with parent letters in languages appropriate to the specific school community. Below is a list of links to assist school districts in addressing this important health issue:
• Healthy Schools Program
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Obesity and Overweight
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Body Mass Index
Scoliosis Screenings
Many states have some form of spinal screening in the school setting to facilitate the early detection of scoliosis or abnormal curvature of the spine. Some states mandate these screening programs. Scoliosis screening is not mandated in the state of Arizona. However, many districts provide scoliosis screenings for students during the 6th grade. Below is a list of resources and links to assist you and your district with administering a scoliosis screening program.
• Scoliosis Screenings: What are we looking for?
• Mayo Clinic: Scoliosis Definition
• Northern Arizona Healthcare, Conditions InDepth: Scoliosis
Care for Students with Diabetes in Schools
For children and teens that have diabetes, that means meeting their diabetes needs at school, as they do at home. It also means that they will need trained adults who are willing and able to assist them as needed. Each student with diabetes has different needs and each must have an individualized care plan. Please visit the American Diabetes Association; safe at school website. For printable guidelines regarding the Care of Children With Diabetes in Arizona Schools, click here.
Head Lice Management in Schools
The war against head lice is a long-standing one. These ectoparasites have infested humankind for over 9,000 years, and despite modern remedies, head lice continue to stay ahead of control efforts. Head lice problems occur year-round. However, it is during the school year that head lice cases seem to be the most common. The reason is that many head lice infestations are discovered by school nurses during classroom head checks. Infested children are usually sent home, and their parents are notified. It is the school nurse’s responsibility to manage head lice problems in the school setting (through head checks, child exclusion, etc.), and it is the parents responsibility to control head lice in their own children. Clearly, school nurses and parents are in this battle together. The purpose of this article is to arm school officials and parents with the most current information to help them fight the pediculosis war in the school environment.
Immunization requirements for schools
The Arizona Department of Health Services has provided information for schools regarding requirements for immunizations for students. This link will take to you to the appropriate schedule. This information also can be found “at a glance” at the Arizona Department of Health Services.
How to Handle Life Threatening Food Allergies and Special Dietary Needs in Schools
The Arizona Department of Health Services has provided the “Arizona Resource Guide for Supporting Children with Life Threatening Food Allergies”. The purpose of this manual is to provide a guideline for supporting children with life threatening food allergies in school. This resource is to assist teams in developing individual plans for children. This printable version can be found on the Arizona Department of Health Services web site.
In our efforts to provide guidance and support to families and schools with children having special dietary provisions, the Arizona Department of Education provides a comprehensive manual for addressing student’s special dietary needs in the school setting. Visit our web site for a printable copy of this manual.
Mandated Hearing Screening
Hearing screening is located under the Arizona Department of Health Services Sensory Program. Hearing screening is a legislatively mandated program that requires all Arizona educational institutions to provide hearing screening and referrals to school-aged children. The mandate requires that all private, charter and public schools make available to its students a systematic screening for hearing disorders in order to allow early identification and appropriate intervention. The Program’s primary objectives are to identify children with hearing and vision impairments and refer them to intervention services in the community; annually increase the numbers of schools complying with the hearing screening mandate; annually increase the number of hearing and vision screenings performed on school-aged children; and develop curriculums for hearing and vision screening and training that will enhance performance and outcome with any student population.
The Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health Sensory Program at the Arizona Department of Health Services offers information on statutes, rules, hearing screening training, equipment, and provides printable documents. For further information please go to the Arizona Department of Health Services web site.
Note:
In partnership with others, the Sensory Program would like to offer organizations the opportunity to borrow hearing screening equipment to screen children ages 1-5. In order to do this, we are loaning hearing screening equipment to trained hearing screeners to screen children ages 1-5. We will continue to loan equipment to screen school age children, trained hearing screeners or any organizations who would like to borrow hearing screening equipment.
Emergency Guidelines for Schools
Here you will find guidelines for helping an ill or injured student when the School Nurse is not available.
Communicable Disease Flip Chart
Here you will find a flip chart that was prepared jointly by the Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Women’s and Children’s Health; and by Maricopa and Pima County Public Health Departments. It is a “best practice” resource designed for use as a reference guide for individuals who are responsible for the health and safety of children in group settings.
Supporting organizations in providing health services for Arizona School Aged Children
The School Nurses Organization of Arizona aims to promote the advancement of Professional School Nursing through interactive leadership and the provision of educational opportunities. The three primary goals of the Organization are to promote interactive leadership, promote educational opportunities for professional school nurses, and promote the role in effectiveness of school nurses in the public policy arena.
The Arizona Department of Health Services Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs- All children and youth with special health care needs have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The Arizona School Nurse Consortium aims to provide leadership for Arizona school nurses and for comprehensive school health programs through education, partnerships, and coalition building so that school age children will achieve their highest level of health and wellness and become successful learners.
The mission of the Arizona Asthma Coalition (AAC) is to advocate for better services and improved quality of life for Arizonans living with asthma through education, partnerships and coalition building. The vision of the Coalition is to eliminate deaths from asthma. The AAC provides tools and programs for healthcare providers, school nurses, patients and their families with the goal of improving asthma care and management.
Arizona School Based Health Centers are school based health centers which provide primary health care services such as treatment for acute conditions like sore throats and earaches, chronic disease management like asthma, and preventive services like immunizations, physical examinations and health education. The conditions most frequently treated are ear and upper respiratory infections and asthma. Centers are staffed by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and/or physicians who work in partnership with school nurses, teachers, and other school staff members.
Flu Information
For up to the minute Flu information please visit: flu.gov
Dental Screenings
Maricopa County Department of Public Health-Office of Oral Health provides FREE Dental Screenings, Dental Sealants and referrals to 2nd and 6th grade students. Please click here Maricopa County School-based Dental Sealant Programs for more information or contact: The Dental Sealant Program Coordinator at (602) 506-6946 or email JaniceGrutzius@mail.maricopa.gov.
School Nursing Continuing Education Programs
School Nurses are trusted care providers, student advocates and educators, making a difference in our schools and community each day. Gateway Community College offers multiple areas of study in nursing and supports Arizona Schools in offering courses designed to specifically educate School Nurses and enrich School Health Services. Please visit their website at: http://www.gatewaycc.edu/Nursing/