School Health Services Grant

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Determining the Status of Wisconsin School Health Services
    
 

Survey and Focus Group Results

Online surveys were conducted with school nurses, parents, school board members, superintendents and pupil services directors. 

Focus groups were conducted with school nurses and health officers.

Click here for the results.

 

Advisory Committee Meeting Materials

May 21, 2008

November 15, 2008

 

 
 

Healthy Child = Healthy Learner = Academic Achievement

Recommendations to Improve School Health Services in Wisconsin

The Healthy Child = Healthy Learner = Academic Achievement report* is now available. The report is the result of a 15-month partnership project funded by the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program. Background on the project can be found below.

The report outlines recommendations to improve school health services. Recommendations focus on funding, partnerships, policy, and practice.

Also available is a brochure that describes some of the challenges and action steps related to school health services.

* Please note that one error has been identified in Appendix C, Chart #10. The correct chart can be found here.


Updates

September 2009:

The following changes and changes-in-process are reflective of the data collected through and recommendations made in the Healthy Child = Healthy Learner = Academic Achievement report.

  • School nursing revenue limit exemption.In Summer 2009, through the states’ 2009-2011 budget, the state legislature passed a bill that allows school districts to exceed revenue limits to hire or contract with school nurses.The exemption begins in the 2011-12 school year.

  • Medical Administration.The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has drafted language for changes in Chapter 118.29 Medication Administration Law.

  • School nursing education.The DPI has drafted language for changes in the common definition and educational requirements for school nursing.

  • Medication training.An online medication training course was developed by DPI for unlicensed assistive personnel. Please see the following website for more information: www.wisconsinschoolmeds.com

Spring 2009:

The Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program grant was not funded. It did, however, score well.

Fall 2008:

A second grant application was submitted. The project, "Improved Student Health in Wisconsin: Adopting School Nurse Best Practices," was submitted to the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The purpose of the project was to "increase the effectiveness of school nurses through the identification and distribution of school nursing best practices, and the provision of appropriate training to implement those best practices."

The UW Wisconsin Partnershiph Program grant application (below) was not funded.

August/September 2008:

The policy report was finalized and distributed to all school districts in Wisconsin.

One grant application, "Assuring Student Health and Safety through Adequate School Nursing Services," was submitted to the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The purpose of the project was to "determine the feasibility of adopting a basic/minimum level of school nursing services in Wisconsin schools".

Summer 2008:
The advisory committee met for their third meeting. The policy report was drafted and circulated for review.

May 2008:
The advisory committee met for the second time.

April/May 2008:
Focus groups were conducted.

February/March/April 2008:
Surveys were distributed.

December 2007/January 2008:
The surveys for superintendents, school nurses, school board members, pupil services directors and parents were finalized.

November 2007:
The advisory committee met for the first time and produced some exciting information. One hundred percent (100%) of those who said they could attend did.

 

Background

A grant was written in 2006 with the purpose of assessing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the current health services infrastructure in Wisconsin public schools using collaborative leadership strategies.  The result of the project will be a unique and crucial public health system product -- a comprehensive policy paper that delineates the results of the assessment, strategic and systemic policy recommendations, and next steps.  The report will serve as a comprehensive “call to action” to strengthen systemic linkages between the educational and public health sectors and Wisconsin stakeholders from government, the public, private, nonprofit, and voluntary sectors to a take collective action to protect the health and safety of school age children and youth and assure conditions in which children and youth can be healthy.  

To achieve the purpose of the grant, a multi-tiered approach will be used:  (1) convene an interdisciplinary and multi-sector advisory committee; (2) assess required and permissive authorities for school health in Wisconsin statutes and administrative rules and compare them to national standards and best practices; (3) survey a representative sample of school officials, health department officials, and parents/guardians regarding the level of school health services that are provided; and (4) conduct at least four formal focus groups comprised of local school nurses and public health nurses to determine their perception of the capacity of the current service delivery system to meet the current and emerging needs of school age children and youth; (5) self-monitoring and accountability of the partnership through a self-assessment tool.

Partners on the project include:  Department of Public Instruction, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Association of School Nurses, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards, and the Wisconsin Public Health Association. 

 

Resources

Additional resources to support school health services