OBESITY IN MISSISSIPPI

A project funded by the POWER initiativeThe nurses identify studentsin need of referral and makeappointments for them andtheir parents. The mobileunit provides a pediatrician,a pediatric nurse practitioner,and a social worker at no cost tothe families. Last year, the GulfCoast Children’s Health Projectalso supported a CommunitySupport and Resiliency MobileUnit, staffed by two full-timemental health counselors anda child psychologist. Thesestaff provided group, family,and individual counseling inthe middle and high schools,as well as group counselingin the elementary schools.The school nurses coordinatedall of these services.The Cleveland School Districthad been without a school nursefor approximately 20 years.The district has 10 schoolsand educates 3,700 childrenincluding numerous childrenwith chronic diseases andphysical and mental limitations.Through a grant from The Officeof Healthy Schools, the districtwas able to employ a schoolnurse in 2008-2009.In the past year, the Clevelanddistrict set up a clinic toprovide wellness screenings inassociation with Medicaid’sCool Kids program and educateteachers and staff on numerouschronic and communicablediseases. HIPPA-compliantmedical software with a biosurveillance component waspurchased to make it easier tomonitor children with asthma,diabetes, food allergies, seizuredisorders, and commoncomplaints such as sore throat,and headache. These childrennow have an individualizedhealth plan designed to meettheir healthcare needs.The screenings providedby school nurses speeddiagnosis and treatment,decreasing the potential forfurther medical complications.The school nurse has beena true child advocate forimproved medical care inthe school system, and theCleveland school board recentlyapproved the hiring of anotherschool nurse for the district,pending funding.85%of students who see a school nurseare able to return to class.Having access to a school nurse keepskids in school, strengtheningthe Average Daily Attendanceon which school fundingis based.23