COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH

  • Coordinated School Health Program

    Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) recognizes that health and academic success go hand-in-hand. Healthy students and healthy staff achieve more together. The CMS Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) uses the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach to support teachers, parents and communities to meet the physical, emotional, social and educational needs of students. Guided by the District’s Wellness Policy (S-WELL; S-WELL/R), together we can help all students become healthy, educated and productive adults.

    Services provided through the ten components of the CSHP are:

    • Health Services: Prevention, education, emergency care, referrals and management of health problems; non-invasive vision, dental, or hearing screenings designed to minimize problems that interfere with learning*
    • Health Education: Classroom instruction addresses physical, emotional and social needs to improve student health and reduce risk behaviors
    • Physical Education and Activity: Provides a planned, sequential curriculum that teaches developmentally appropriate skills and promotes lifelong activity; a minimum of 30 minutes per day of physical activity for grades K-8
    • Nutrition Services: Integration of nutritious, affordable meals and nutrition education in an environment that promotes healthy eating
    • Counseling, Psychological and Social Services: Support social and emotional well-being and help schools respond to crises
    • Physical Environment: Provision of safe environment
    • Social and Emotional Climate: Focus on positive, supportive learning environment to enhance student engagement
    • Employee Wellness: Promotes the well-being of all school employees who serve as role models for students
    • Family Engagement: Families and school staff working together to promote student success and well-being
    • Community Engagement: Schools working with community partners to enhance the school setting and better the community

    *In compliance with SB 49, consent is required prior to administration of a student well-being questionnaires or health screenings.Parental consent must be obtained. Please notify your school if you would like to opt your student out of other health services

    Benefits of Coordinated School Health:

    • Reduced school absenteeism
    • Fewer behavior problems in the classroom
    • Improved student performance – higher test scores, more alert students and more positive attitudes among students
    • New levels of cooperation and collaboration among families, teachers, school and health officials and community organizations
    • A more positive school climate, enhancing engagement among educators and their students
    • The inclusion of health awareness in the fabric of student’s lives
    • Students who are more prepared to become productive members of their communities and who can better cope with the world around them
    • School Health Advisory Council
    • School-based health teams at each school

    School Nursing Services

    The Mecklenburg County Public Health (MCPH) School Health Program provides school health nursing services for CMS students. All MCHD school nurses are registered nurses (RNs). School nursing services include, but are not limited to:

    • Individual health care needs assessments for students 
    • Health care plan development, revision and evaluation including Emergency Action Plans, Individual Health Care Plans and health related components of Individual Education Programs and 504 Plans 
    • Direct provision of nursing health care services 
    • School staff instruction, training and supervision in provision of care for students with special health care needs 
    • Instruction and oversight for medication administration processes in schools 
    • Emergency and injury care, planning and training 
    • Support health promotion and wellness initiatives 

    Chronic Health Problems or Conditions:

    Our goal is to keep our students safe, healthy and ready to learn. If your child has a chronic health problem or any health condition which needs special assistance at school, please contact your school health nurse (examples include diabetes, asthma, allergies, seizures, sickle cell, etc.).

    Parents should:

    • Notify the school nurse
    • Ensure medication administration documentation is provided to the nurse
    • Make sure your child has any emergency medications (rescue inhalers, epinephrine, etc.) available in the health office
    • Complete an Action Plan with your child’s doctor for Asthma or Diabetes Care and bring a copy to the school nurse so that he/she can administer medication to your child at school
    • Contact your child’s school nurse if there are any changes in your child’s medical conditions or health concerns or if you have any questions

    Your child should STAY HOME:

    • If an oral temperature above 100.4 (student should remain home until fever free for 24 hours)
    • If vomiting or diarrhea two or more times within 24 hours
    • If other signs of potentially contagious illness

    Other Health Recommendations

    Influenza is a virus spread from infected persons to the nose or throat of another. Influenza can cause fever, sore throat, chills, coughs, headache, and muscle aches. A yearly vaccination is available.

    Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by bacteria. It is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings and can cause blood infections. The vaccine for this is required for individuals entering 7th grade or by the age of 12

    Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus spread through intimate contact. HPV can cause changes in cells (cervical dysplasia) or lead to cervical cancer if untreated. Vaccines are available.

    For more information on these and other vaccines go to https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vaccines-diseases.html 

    Safe Surrender 
    Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-500, a female may legally surrender her newborn baby (up to seven days old) to a responsible adult without fear of criminal prosecution. School social workers, school nurses, counselors, and law enforcement agents are examples of responsible adults who are familiar with this law. Safe surrender is anonymous and legal. More information can be found at: https://bit.ly/2l46Ci0. Those individuals without internet access can contact a school nurse or social worker.