School Health Programs/Healthier Lifestyles
The health department partners with and offers consultation
to the R-II public school system . Assistance is provided with immunizations, health
education and communicable disease prevention. Staff serves on their health advisory
board.
A full school nursing program is provided to all of the parochial schools in the
county which includes the usual screenings for vision, hearing, height, weight,
scoliosis and blood pressure for age appropriate students. In addition, students
are assessed to assure they receive comprehensive physicals and dental care. Assistance
is provided in finding a medical home if needed. Assessments are done to determine
special health care needs and care plans for students with special needs are developed
along with action plans to address life threatening conditions. Health education
and training is provided to students, staff and parents.
Healthier Lifestyles
A healthier lifestyles program has been initiated in the parochial schools to encourage
children to make healthier food choices, get more exercise and live a healthier
lifestyle in general. Information is periodically sent home to the parents and at
least one special family activity will be held during the school year. The intent
of this program is, of course, to prevent childhood obesity as well as obesity in
our children’s later years. The term obesity as well as other negative weight-related
terms are avoided in the education in the hopes that the children will want to live
healthy rather than be weight conscious.