Harrison County Health Department

School Health Program

The Harrison County Health Department provides 1 RN and 1 LPN to the five school districts in Harrison County to assist the school districts with their school health programs.  The HCHD staff work closely with the school administrators using the Manual for School Health Programs as their guide to establish and maintain a coordinated school health system targeting positive outcomes for school-age children, their families, the school staff, and the community.

Four of the school districts participate in a contract with HCHD and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.  This contract focuses on outcomes and a coordinated approach to school health.  The guiding principle of a coordinated school health approach is that working in partnership with health agencies, community institutions, and families; schools and communities can create a seamless web of education and services that lowers the barriers to learning.  The long-term outcomes for the School Health Services Program are to promote healthy and safe behaviors of young people, and to improve educational performance.

Asthma action plans and individualized health care plans are written by the RN for those students needing special monitoring in the school setting.  These plans are reviewed annually by the RN and the plans are distributed to those staff who work with the individual student.

Each school district has their own Health Advisory Committee.  They meet approximately four times per year and discuss issues such as safety, physical activity, healthy eating, and wellness for students as well as staff.  School health policies are reviewed and findings shared with the administration and school board for review.  Health data collection has become a goal for the HCHD staff to better assess the special health care needs of the students.

The HCHD staff continue to assist the school districts in the control of head lice.  When requested, head lice checks are performed at the beginning of each school year and again after Christmas break.  Parents are counseled as needed.  Project NOEL assists the school districts with head lice shampoo.  In 2008 approximately 1,440 head lice checks were performed. 

Screenings for vision, hearing, and scoliosis were done this year, as time was available. Bethany Eye Center assisted HCHD with vision screenings at North and South Harrison. Over 1,360 screenings have been done in 2008 for vision, hearing, and scoliosis.  Referrals for vision and hearing are made after a child has failed two individual screenings. Referrals for scoliosis are done after one individual screening.  Resources are provided to parents in need of assistance.

The HCHD staff provides educational materials to students, parents, and teachers as requested.  HCHD provides a small library of videos for health education and assists with ordering educational literature from the state.  MC+ information was offered to all school districts.  Applications for MC+ are sent to parents upon request.  This year the percentage of students with evidence of access to a regular source of medical care has increased from 82% to 90% in the 4 smaller school districts.

Dental screenings are now conducted in the fall.  Local dentists and their assistants provided their time and expertise to conduct dental screenings for 602 Harrison County school children in grades K-6.  The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services provides toothbrushes.  All schools in Harrison County participate in the fluoride program, grades K-6.  North Harrison, South Harrison and 19 students at Ridgeway, participated this year in the fluoride varnish program, which in 2010 will replace fluoride swish.  Fluoride varnish is a 5% sodium fluoride coating painted on the teeth 2 times a year at school to help prevent new cavities from starting and may help small cavities that have already started.  Four employees from the HCHD have taken the training from DHSS so that they may assist in the fluoride varnish painting.  Brushing and flossing education were also provided from HCHD to these students.

A safe and healthy environment is important for education; optimal learning requires good health.  The health norms and social expectations created by the school act as a factor to support healthy development of students.  All school health personnel and administration, community members along with the Harrison County Health Department continue to work toward creating a healthful school environment by acting as a liaison between home and school regarding health concerns.   

Donna Stevenson, RN

School Health Nurse Manager  

2008 School Health Statistics

Head Lice checks          1,440

Vision checks                   525

Dental screenings             602

Hearing checks                713

Scoliosis checks              122

Total screenings            3,402