TallapoosaCountySchool Health Services

The “Strategic Plan”, Goal 3.5, states:

“Provide and maintain efficient transportation, health/wellness, and nutrition services to support high quality instruction and student achievement”

One of the strands of “Plan 2020”, objective 5, states:

“All students will be provided with healthy meals, physical education, and health instruction supported with needed medical and related services”

How does this department meet these goals/objectives or plan to meet these goals/objectives this school year?

  1. The school nurses provide leadership for the provision of health services and management of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, tube feedings and urinary catherizations.
  • Assessment of health conditions
  • Development of individual health care plans (IHCP) and emergency action plans (EAPs)
  • Development of evacuation plans for specific health conditions
  • Communication of health care needs and health care plans with teachers, bus drivers and staff
  1. Vision Research, Sight Savers, Lion’s Club, SarrellDentalCenter, PEEHIP, Teach Flu a Lesson and AU School of Nursing are our current health screening and health education partners. The school nurses provide or assist with health screenings through these organizations
  • Identifying health concerns
  • Referral for treatment
  • Communication with parent/guardian about health findings
  • Continued treatment of underlying condition
  • Screeningsite coordination and implementation of screening program
  • Management of screening clinics and events
  1. The school nurses provide direct care to students
  • Provision of care of injuries
  • Provision of care of acute illness
  • Provision of health instruction to students
  • Communication with parent/guardian
  1. The school nurses promote a healthy school environment by providing for the physical and emotional safety of the school
  2. Monitoring immunizations
  3. Ensuring appropriate exclusion for infectious illnesses
  4. Reporting of communicable diseases (as required by law)
  5. Participation in monitoring of school environment
  6. Participation in the in-school mental health program (as provided through East Alabama Mental Health)
  7. Communication with school counselor in the management of suicide prevention and school violence/bullying
  1. The school nurses promote health within the schools
  • Student education during office visits
  • Staff education during office visits
  • Classroom education, as time permits
  1. The school nurses act as a liaison between school personnel, family, health care professionals and the community.
  • Participation in IEP meetings
  • Participation in 504 meetings
  • Case management of students with health problems
  • Provision of health care plans to all teachers/staff/bus drivers
  1. The school nurses assist in the provision of health information or health clinics for teachers/staff
  • Organization of PEEHIP flu shot clinics
  • Organization of PEEHIP wellness clinics
  • Assistance with health conditions of teachers/staff
  • Health education of teachers/staff
  1. The lead school nurse serves in a leadership role for health policies and programs and department oversight
  • Development of health policies and procedures
  • Participation in school wellness management
  • Participation in crisis/disaster management and safety of schools
  • Participation in health protection and prevention of illnesses
  • Participation and partnership with East Alabama Mental Health as the Program Director of the In-School Mental Health Program
  • Coordination of all screening programs
  • Coordination of all health promotion clinics/events
  • Coordination of chronic disease management
  • Oversight and management of all health care plans