Developing and supporting school health programs. Role for family physicians.

PROBLEM BEING ADDRESSED

School staff are anxious about the demands on their time associated with a perceived increase in health problems among their students.

OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM

To respond to these concerns by developing a health committee in two elementary schools and one high school. The health committee could perform needs assessments and, with the results of these assessments and a careful literature review, could develop health policies and procedures appropriate to the school environment and to evolving community expectations.

MAIN COMPONENTS OF PROGRAM

A committee of four family physicians (nonremunerated parents of students), one of whom served as Chair, four school administrators, and one part-time remunerated nurse practitioner explored aspects of illness in the schools. They studied approaches to acute and chronic student illness; emergency response; management of children with special needs; environmental safety; health promotion; and the availability and quality of resources for learning about health for teachers, administrators, parents, and students.

CONCLUSION

Opportunities exist for family physicians to expand their involvement in child and adolescent health in schools. Involvement should be collaborative and multidisciplinary and reflect community interests and needs.