School Health Services - Texas Guide to School Health Services
As of March 2017, the Texas Guide to School Health Services is now a web
based resource. The revision was necessitated due to changes in school health
services and school nursing practice.
The revisions include links to the latest information on school health
services and programs to assist school health personnel. It is divided into eight sections in order to
help with navigation.
To access the information in
this guide:
Information for school health services staff is available on this webpage. Click
on the major headings to get to a topic of interest. Each page lists best
practice resources from national agencies, Texas specific agencies, nursing organizations,
and other reputable sources. If further assistance is needed, please email the School Health Program.
Coordinated School Health
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Coordinated School Health
(CSH) approach has been the traditional mainstay for integrating
health-promoting practices in the school setting since 1987. In 2013, the
CDC and ASCD introduced the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model
(WSCC) to expand upon the traditional CSH approach and bring greater alignment
between the education and health sectors. More information can be found
about the current WSCC model, the traditional CSH approach, and Texas’
requirement for CSH programs in this section.
Health Conditions
Children come to school with a
variety of health conditions. Some are acute and some are chronic in nature.
School health service staff are responsible for the prevention and management
of these conditions in the school setting. This section includes information on
allergies, anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, healthcare plans, mental
health issues, traumatic brain injuries, and seizures.
Legal Issues
School health services staff
need to know school health–related laws, rules, and regulations to assure the
health and safety of students. This section includes links and information on student
health records, HIPAA and FERPA laws, and out of hospital do-not
resuscitate orders.
Professional School Nursing
School nurses serve in a
pivotal role that bridges healthcare and education. As the main health contact
in the school setting, school nurses address the physical, mental, emotional,
and social health needs of students. The Nurse Practice Act, Texas Board of
Nursing Rules and Regulations, and other resources related to school nursing
and school health services roles are included in this section.
Addressing Students' Special Health Care Needs
Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are laws that protect
children with special healthcare and educational needs. More
information about these laws, rules, and recommended
practices for the management of children’s special healthcare and educational
needs are included in this section.
School Health Office Resources
School health office resources include materials that are used by school
health services personnel on a regular basis. This section includes information
on communicable diseases, environmental health, emergency preparedness, health programming,
medical assistance programs and other useful information.
School Health Services
School health services is a "coordinated
system that ensures a continuum of care from school to home to community health
care provider and back" (Small et al., 1995). This section includes information
on bloodborne pathogen control, immunizations, medication administration,
emergency response, screenings, and student safety.
Skilled Procedures
Skilled procedures are
procedures carried out to help students maintain health or help students and
staff in an emergency situation. The documents contained in this section outline
step-by-step instructions for how to address and perform healthcare tasks in
the school setting. This section includes sample administrative guidelines,
procedure checklists, problem lists, and physician’s order forms for various health
conditions.
Return to the School Health Services page.