General Services

General School Health Services:

Nursing:

• Enhance the health of students and staff.
• Promote injury prevention, healthy eating, active living and mental health of students.
• Provide health education in areas such as sexuality, hand washing and body image.
• Address tobacco use among students and promote cessation/prevention.
• Assess student health needs.
• Screen for vision and hearing concerns upon request. 
• Assist/link with referrals to other agencies.
• Support teachers in presenting their core health education curriculum.
• Provide consultation, information and access to educational resources for teachers

Immunization and Communicable Disease Control:

Kindergarten immunization is provided at Public Health Centres prior to the beginning of the school year for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox).

• Grade 1 Immunization for children who have not had a booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus, petrussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) in Kindergarten.
• Grade 5 hepatitis B immunization program.
• Grade 5 varicella (chickenpox) immunization program for children who have not had chickenpox disease or vaccine.
• Grade 9 immunization booster for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough).
• Tuberculosis Skin Testing for students who have come from an endemic area within the past year.
• Communicable disease follow-up for students and staff.
• Infection control consultation.
• Influenza disease surveillance in selected schools.

Speech and Language:

Assessment and treatment services focusing on early elementary children with mild to moderate problems involving:

• pronunciation
• language - understanding and using language for learning, conversing and expressing ideas
• fluency - speaking easily and smoothly
• voice - using a vocal quality with appropriate pitch and loudness
• Support to school staff and parents on speech and language issues
• Service may be provided by SLP Assistants
  Children with severe speech and language concerns or who qualify under sensory multi-handicapped services should be referred to Edmonton Regional Educational Consulting Services.

Dental Health
For all elementary schools:

Dental screenings were conducted for children in K, 2 and 6 during 2005-05 school year
Data from those screenings will be used to determine the dental health services offered to schools
These services have not yet been determined .
Information will be made available as soon as possible.

Rehabilitation:

• Respiratory - Asthma Education Program (RAP - Roaring Adventures of Puff) can be provided in schools for kids with asthma.
  Consists of 6 sessions conducted during the school lunch hour.
  Topics include signs and symptoms, triggers, medications (why, when and how to use), staying active with asthma and more. Contact 413-5140 for more information.
• Occupational and Physical Therapy - Limited OT/PT services that are funded by the various Student Health Initiatives may be available throughout the school districts.
  For more information regarding OT/PT services in your school please call 413-4976.

Note: To access any of the above services please contact your child's school.

Community Health Services has a comprehensive process of providing information to families and schools on health related issues for students.

• Each school has a Healthy Schools Information and Resource Manual in the main office.
  This manual contains the up to date listing of Community Health Programs and Services as well as the referral process for these services.
• Health Talk, a quarterly school health newsletter, is provided to each elementary and Junior High school and is a good source of current easy-to-find and easy-to-use health information.
• Back to School Package
  Each school receives, in August, a package of information on school health forms, contacts, programs and services for the coming school year.

Health Link - for health advice and information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call Capital Health Link at 408-LINK (5465). Outside the local Edmonton calling area, call toll-free 1-866-408-LINK. Visit www.capitalhealth.ca for health information online.

Disclaimer
Reviewed by Alberta clinical experts. Brought to you by HealthLink Alberta. Copyright.
This material is designed for information purposes only. It should not be used in place of medical advice, instruction and/or treatment. For more health advice call Capital Health Link at 780-408-LINK (5465) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Alberta, call Toll-free: 1-866-408-LINK (5465)