Behavioral and health problems of school-age young people often hinder their ability to learn. Growing numbers of young people have health conditions that affect their school attendance and classroom performance. The extent of physical, emotional, psychological, and social problems present in some student populations is so great that the primary mission of the school education cannot proceed if these pathologies are not addressed (Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, 1989)
These services are designed to ensure access or referral to primary health care services. The services also should foster appropriate use of primary health care services, prevent and control communicable disease and other health problems, provide emergency care for illness or injury, promote and provide optimum sanitary conditions for a safe school facility and school environment, and provide educational and counseling opportunities for promoting and maintaining individual, family, and community health. Qualified professionals such as physicians, nurses, dentists, health educators, and other allied health personnel provide these services.
Resources:
Child Health Insurance: Health Choice for Children
Health insurance plays a key role in keeping children healthy and in school. As of October 1998, families who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford rising health insurance premiums are able to get free or reduced price comprehensive health care for their children. The new plan, “NC Health Choice for Children,” is the same as coverage provided for the children of state employees and teachers, plus vision, hearing and dental benefits. When working families cannot afford health care for their children, the consequences can be dire. Babies may not get the checkups that make sure they are growing healthy and strong. Families may wait until a child is very sick before seeking medical help, sometimes getting help only in an emergency. Untreated illnesses can have long-lasting consequences, such as hearing loss caused by ear infections. To find out more about this free or reduced cost children’s health insurance plan, visit the NC Health Choice web site.
Dental Health Services
The NC Oral Health Section provides statewide school-based education / promotion programs including classroom education supported with educational videos and other audiovisual tools, printed activity materials and interactive exhibits. Instruction covers disease prevention, oral hygiene practices, injury prevention, appropriate diet, consumerism and professional dental care practices.
Training in the comprehensive dental health curriculum, Framework for Dental Health Education is available for all elementary teachers in the state. The training includes companion videos and study guides. The curriculum correlates with the NC Department of Public Instruction’s Statewide Comprehensive Curriculum for public schools.
- Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
- Children’s Dental Info
- Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care
- Disability Resource Site
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- Models that Work – Primary and Preventive Care Partnerships
- National Combined Health Information Database
- National Library of Medicine
- SW Center for Application of Prevention Technology
- Vaccine Safety Factsheets