The Long Island Regional Student Support Services Center
A Long Island Regional Office of the New York State Education Department
Serving the school districts and communities of Nassau BOCES,Western Suffolk BOCES and Eastern Suffolk BOCES
**Updated** 3/22/2007
Western Suffolk Boces is offering a CoSer (Cooperative Services) for Long Island School Districts. This is a package of services and programs that districts can buy into at a discounted rate. A letter to administrators follows this message. Several districts have already joined and we would like to offer this opportunity to all LI school districts. Please share this letter with appropriate administrators if you would like your district to become a member of this CoSer.
THE LONG ISLAND REGIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES CENTER A Long Island Regional Office of the New York State Education DepartmentServing the school districts and communities of Nassau BOCES,Western Suffolk BOCES and Eastern Suffolk BOCES 3/21/2007
Dear Administrator:
Western Suffolk BOCES, through the capacity of the Long Island Regional Student Support Services Center (LIRSSSC) is offering a School Health Services Network CoSer for the 2007-08 school year. The LIRSSSC has long served as a linkage between Long Island’s school health services staff and the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Because your district currently avails itself of our programs and services, membership in this CoSer will be a cost-effective initiative to further enhance your district’s participation in conferences and the benefits of personalized technical assistance and support.
The annual fee for membership in the School Health Services Network CoSer is $2300. Members are entitled to:
Ø Attend three (3) Western Suffolk BOCES School Nursing Professional and Practice Issues Conferences (no additional cost)
Ø One (1) customized on-site professional development for school health staff
Ø Technical and professional support for district administrators, school nurses and school health staff
Ø Participation in the School Nurse Mentor Partnership for new district school nurses
Ø Additional services as needed to provide guidance and support for School Health Services programs and policies:
1. Regulations of the Commissioner of Education
2. District School Health Program Review
3. School Attendance Immunization Requirements
4. Mandated Screening Procedures and Protocols
5. Medication Administration ProceduresMembership also will include a reduced rate for attendance at the Annual Election Day Professional Development Conference for School Nurses.We look forward to hearing from your district regarding this opportunity to support your staff’s delivery of optimal school health services. Please contact Susan Kessler at 631-595-6814 for further information.
Sincerely,
Susan Kessler, Administrator LIRSSSC
Linda Dychkowski, School Health Services Specialist
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I hope you all had a restful Winter Recess and that your return is going smoothly! Many of you have had questions regarding the new Tdap requirements for 6th graders born on or after 1/1/94. For those of you on the Statewide School Health Services Center (SSHSC) listserv (Sally and Gail), you already know that they are awaiting guidance from the NYS Department of Health. They are hoping that DOH reps who will be speaking at the SED School Health Services Updates, will be able to answer your questions. In the meantime, go to the Statewide School Health Services Center’s website, www.schoolhealthservicesny.com where you can download (Go to A-Z Index and then to “I” for Immunizations) the latest information on the law and the new immunization requirements. I hope you will find the following information helpful and timely in your school nursing practices!
Linda Dychkowski
1. Upcoming Workshops at the LI Regional Student Support Services Center: To see what is available and to register, go to www.wsboces.org and click on Instructional Support which will take you to our Workshop Calendar. Just click on the date you are interested in. If you need to speak to someone in our office, please call please call Connie (631-595-6832) or Joann (631-595-6843).
2. The State Education Department’s Annual School Health Updates will be occurring earlier this year. The date choices are April 18 and 19 - in Melville and Riverhead, respectively. Traditionally, the Updates have been our ‘lifeline’ to the State Education Department’s current regulations, guidelines and best practices for school nursing. Every district should be represented at this event. To register, go to: www.schoolhealthservicesny.com and click on Events.
3. Our Third Annual Election Day Conference for School Nurses will be held on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007. Seats fill up quickly – call Joann at 631-595-6843 to reserve seats for your district’s school nurses. This event has become an excellent alternative for school nurses on Superintendent’s Conference Days, and districts have been responding enthusiastically to this opportunity for their nurses. Past agendas are available upon request for your perusal.
Announcements:
At our last School Nursing Professional & Practice Issues Workshop in February, we participated in an activity entitled: Building a Case for…… This activity was developed to help us when we need to make a presentation to administration – whether for an increase in our Health Office Budget, an after-school nurse, or an additional school nurse for our building. The Talking Points created by school nurses for an additional building nurse and a nurse for an after school program can be used as a template for building any case......
I. BUILDING A CASE FOR.....
AN ADDITIONAL SCHOOL NURSE IN YOUR BUILDING
TALKING POINTS:
A. Purpose/Need
To address increasing medical needs of students
To provide professional nursing coverage on school trips
To have an additional nurse available at all times to cover emergencies and situations where the primary school nurse is needed
To provide coverage for the school nurse as needed for meetings, parent conferences, etc.
To assist with health and/or sport appraisals
To ensure that building will always have a professional school nurse in attendance to address health and medical needs of students
Ensures increase improved follow-up and compliance with Public Health and Education Laws regarding immunizations and mandated screenings
B. Benefits
More cost-effective than employing an agency nurse
Ensures continuity of care for students
Addresses risk management strategies to minimize school district liability
Addresses increase in staff as needed as per No Child Left Behind (NCLB) regulations
Would meet/exceed standard of care due students and expected by parents
C. Resources
Health Office Data and anecdotal records
Statewide School Health Services Center (SSHSC)
Long Island Regional Student Support Services Center (LIRSSSC)
National Association School Nurses (NASN) Position Papers and Issue Briefs regarding Caseload Assignments and Management of Students with Chronic Health Conditions
Surrounding school districts for comparative purposes
Parents/PTA
D. Presentation to administration and Board of Education
E. Plan ‘B’ to include compromise for a half-time nurse and/or consideration of a ‘Float’ nurse position.
II. BUILDING A CASE FOR......
A SCHOOL NURSE FOR EXTENDED SCHOOL DAY PROGRAM
TALKING POINTS:
A. Need
Increasing student health needs both in and out of school day
Health and safety of students in after school program
Fosters enrichment opportunities, irregardless of health status/disability, for all students in the school community
B. Benefits
Standard of safe school day environment carried over into after school program
Risk management concepts put in practice in order to promote student safety and to minimize district liability
In line with components of CDC’s Coordinated School Health (CSH) Model and safety in schools as per S.A.V. E. legislation
Reflects to parents and the community, the school district’s commitment to the safety and well being of students in the after school program
For students with special health needs, components of IEPs, 504s, Individualized Healthcare (IHP) and Emergency Care (ECP) Plans can be implemented, thereby ensuring continuity and compliance in all school-related programs
C. Resources
Health Office Data and anonymous anecdotal health needs of those attending after the school program
Statewide School Health Services Center (SSHSC)
Long Island Regional Student Support Services Center (LIRSSSC)
National Association School Nurses (NASN) Position Papers and Issue Briefs
Surrounding school districts for comparative purposes
Parents/PTA
D. Present proposal/budgetary implications to school board
E. Plan ‘B’ to include collaboration with broader school community (i.e. PTA)
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In December, school nurses heard the expertise of Dr. Winfred Wu, Medical Director Department of Health Services and Bioterrorism Preparedness at the Suffolk County Department of Health, and Mr. Jonathan Hark, Safety and Administration Support Manager at Eastern Suffolk BOCES’ Regional Occupational Safety and Health Program regarding our role in Pandemic Flu Planning and Response. Prior to that, our Election Day Conference in November provided 125 school nurses with the opportunity to network with colleagues; to hear an inspirational talk by Lynn Jordan, retired school nurse from the Mt. Sinai School District; and to be a part of presentations on the role of the school nurse in HIV/AIDS Education Prevention, Incontinence in the School Setting, and Medication Incident/Error Policy Development.
PANDEMIC FLU RESOURCES
www.avanianflu.gov –Home Page U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, CDC, and U.S. Government
www.pandemicflu.gov – School District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/fmis/pandemic.htm - NYSED Letter
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/pandemic/ NYSDOH Plan (over 400 pages)
Resources:
1. The National Survey of Children’s Health - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau: http://nschdata.org/Content/Default.aspx This is excellent information that can be used in our school nurse practices. Some of the data is based on parent reporting. Once you get to the home page, scroll down to the map and click on NYS. You will then be able to review the percentages of children with have moderate to severe health problems; impact of asthma; rate of injuries; covered by health insurance, just to name a few of the health factors that affect children in our state.NYS data link: http://nschdata.org/Content/StatePrevalence.aspx?geo=New%20York
2. The National Survey of Children’s Health - Overweight and Physical Activity Among Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation, 2005, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau: http://nschdata.org/documents/overweightchartbook.pdf FYI: Based on parental reports, the national percentage of children who are overweight is at 14.8, whereas children in NYS are at 15.3 percent. For ages 10-11, the national percentage of overweight is 21.9 – NYS children are at 26 percent.
Update from NYS DOH – Influenza:
Ø Influenza activity in NYS is now widespread throughout the state.
Ø Providers are urged to continue vaccinating patients throughout the influenza season.
Ø Influenza vaccine is still available at no cost through the NYS Department of Health “Outbreaks of influenza and influenza-like illness have been reported in school districts in several counties……….Schools that identify illness or high absentee rates among students and/or staff should consult their local health department for assistance with communication and prevention efforts.”(From the NYS DOH document entitled: Health Advisory – Influenza Disease Activity Now Widespread in NYS (Feb. 16, 2007).