SUCCESS IN CHARLOTTE, NC!
After 2 years of parent advocacy for school nurse funding, here are our results! *1 nurse in EVERY SCHOOL by March 2015 *Funding for an additional 44 front line school nurses *Funding for 5 more school nurse supervisors *1 nurse per 890 students instead of 1/1200 *Increased awareness for school health issues |
MISSION of N.C. Parents Advocating for School Health (N.C.PASH)
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OBJECTIVES of N.C. PASH:
- Full-Time Nurses in Every School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (and the rest of N.C.)
- Ensure CMS and N.C. has comprehensive school health policies and procedures
- Assist parents in Charlotte, in N.C. and nation wide advocate to improve school health
Efforts began in Charlotte, but see our new page for SALISBURY (Rowan County Schools) to help there
Save the Date!
Both events take place at The Mecklenburg County Government Center, 600 E. Fourth Street, Charlotte, NC
JUNE 11, 2014 Public Hearing - IMPORTANT!
Bring your family, wear RED and bring signs. Be there at 5pm. |
JUNE 12, 2014 Straw Vote
Wear RED, bring signs and show your support. Be there at 2:30pm. |
We are SO close, but aren't there yet!
Write, Write, Write our Commissioners and Kindly ask them to vote YES on June 12; please provide funding for a NURSE in EVERY School!
Go to the "YOU CAN HELP" tab or click link for EASY directions.
- Respectfully request the County Commissioners vote YES for funding to provide a Nurse in every school!
- School nurses are the most cost effective and efficient way to positively affect the health of our children.
- School nurses do an important job of assisting with the care of chronic conditions, accidents and injuries when children are at school.
- Full-Time School Nurses in a comprehensive school nurse program are at the forefront of identifying epidemics, abuse/neglect, mental health, drug abuse and violence.
- You support the teachers that care for your children and they need full-time medical guidance and support.
- The BIG PICTURE is that a School Nurse program contributes to the health, safety and general welfare of our children and therefore their education.
- WHY? Healthy Kids Learn Better!
Thank You, County Manager Diorio!
County Manager Diorio said at the Budget Proposal that "Community Engagement" would be key to her leadership style. Thank you, Manager Diorio, for listening to the parents across Mecklenburg County! Our children need a full-time nurse in every school!
Diorio said she’s heard considerable concerns from parents about the lack of school nurses. Her budget would provide funding to hire 33 school nurses and three school nurse supervisors, ensuring that each CMS school would have a nurse. School nurses report to the Health Department and aren’t part of the CMS budget.Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/05/29/4940066/mecklenburg-county-manager-proposed.html#.U4itVHJdXTo#storylink=cpy
County Manager Recommended 33 Nurses; A Nurse in Every School!
FOX 46 in the Carolinas by Archity Seshadri, posted May 29, 2014
Click HERE to watch.
A nurse in every school is gaining momentum
by David Perlmutt, Charlotte Observer
Read this excerpt from the article in the Charlotte Observer on March 22, 2014:
...It’s the issue that Diorio has heard about the most during her first three months on the job. “I’ve gotten 300 emails on school nurses,” she said. “Nothing else comes close.”
The movement got a boost from Plescia, who urged commissioners at their recent budget retreat to hire the additional school nurses. He said the county would see public health benefits beyond reacting to playground accidents or colds, or looking after students with such chronic conditions as asthma, allergies and diabetes.
“A nurse in each school would allow us to take a much more comprehensive approach to child health,” Plescia said Thursday. “As a society, children are our most valuable investment, and we must do everything we can to prepare them for healthy and productive lives.”
Diorio said she’s strongly considering more school nurses as she and her staff put together a recommended budget – at a time when the county is expecting a surplus of about $35 million. She will unveil her recommended budget to commissioners on May 20.
“It’s probably a good time to start thinking about ramping up” the school nurse program, she said. “It’s going to go into the hopper with all the other requests, but it is clearly a priority for the community, it’s a priority for the Health Department and a priority for the board – so it ranks high.”
Read more from the Charlotte Observer HERE
...It’s the issue that Diorio has heard about the most during her first three months on the job. “I’ve gotten 300 emails on school nurses,” she said. “Nothing else comes close.”
The movement got a boost from Plescia, who urged commissioners at their recent budget retreat to hire the additional school nurses. He said the county would see public health benefits beyond reacting to playground accidents or colds, or looking after students with such chronic conditions as asthma, allergies and diabetes.
“A nurse in each school would allow us to take a much more comprehensive approach to child health,” Plescia said Thursday. “As a society, children are our most valuable investment, and we must do everything we can to prepare them for healthy and productive lives.”
Diorio said she’s strongly considering more school nurses as she and her staff put together a recommended budget – at a time when the county is expecting a surplus of about $35 million. She will unveil her recommended budget to commissioners on May 20.
“It’s probably a good time to start thinking about ramping up” the school nurse program, she said. “It’s going to go into the hopper with all the other requests, but it is clearly a priority for the community, it’s a priority for the Health Department and a priority for the board – so it ranks high.”
Read more from the Charlotte Observer HERE
Listen to Dr. Plescia, Mecklenburg County Health Department Director
Dr. Plescia, Mecklenburg County Director of Health:
"Greatest impact on child health in Mecklenburg County is through School health Nursing."
See PowerPoint Slides of Health Director's Presentation to BOCC at Budget Retreat regarding School Nurses
See VIDEO of Health Director's Presentation to BOCC, skip to 1:11 for Dr. Plescia's presentation on School Nurses.
Dr. Plescia, Mecklenburg County Director of Health:
"Greatest impact on child health in Mecklenburg County is through School health Nursing."
See PowerPoint Slides of Health Director's Presentation to BOCC at Budget Retreat regarding School Nurses
See VIDEO of Health Director's Presentation to BOCC, skip to 1:11 for Dr. Plescia's presentation on School Nurses.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS NO NURSE IN THE SCHOOL?
Medication errors happen by well meaning but untrained staff, broken bones and concussions go unnoticed and untreated. Tragedies have even occurred.
12 year old Laporshia Massey died from asthma complications that first occurred
while at school. There was no school nurse due to Philadelphia school's budget
cuts and no one called an ambulance when she reported having trouble breathing.
When she arrived home from school, her family tired to drive her to the hospital
but it was too late. Her father believes had a school nurse been there, his
daughter might still be alive today.
This is not the only case where parents felt a school nurse could have saved their child's life around the nation. There have been multiple instances of life threatening allergies that went unnoticed and/or untreated resulting in death at school. In some instances 911 was called, but it was too late.
North Carolina,thankfully, does not yet have a child and family that has suffered the ultimate price for a lack of nurses in our schools. We don't want this for anyone! Please go to the "You Can Help" tab and write your County Officials today.
Medication errors happen by well meaning but untrained staff, broken bones and concussions go unnoticed and untreated. Tragedies have even occurred.
12 year old Laporshia Massey died from asthma complications that first occurred
while at school. There was no school nurse due to Philadelphia school's budget
cuts and no one called an ambulance when she reported having trouble breathing.
When she arrived home from school, her family tired to drive her to the hospital
but it was too late. Her father believes had a school nurse been there, his
daughter might still be alive today.
This is not the only case where parents felt a school nurse could have saved their child's life around the nation. There have been multiple instances of life threatening allergies that went unnoticed and/or untreated resulting in death at school. In some instances 911 was called, but it was too late.
North Carolina,thankfully, does not yet have a child and family that has suffered the ultimate price for a lack of nurses in our schools. We don't want this for anyone! Please go to the "You Can Help" tab and write your County Officials today.
Why a School Nurse Every Day?
- Accidents, Injuries and Chronic, Life-Threatening conditions occur any day!
- Teachers are able to TEACH and reduce time spent addressing health issues.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports having a full-time nurse in every school. "School Nurses, as part of a coordinated school health program, contribute to meeting the needs of the whole child and supporting their success in school". AAP, Role of the School Nurse in Providing School Health Services.
- Greater school security when school office staff is less distracted by health issues.
- Increased attendance = Increased School Funds
- Healthy Children Learn Better.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Nurse Statistics:
2013
143,000 Students 159 schools 117 School Nurses 2013 Nurse/Student Ratio: 1 Nurse per 1222 students Nurses needed for CDC 1/750 ratio: 73 Nurses needed for 1 per school: 42 |
2014
145,000 Students 160 schools 128 School Nurses 2014 Nurse/Student Ratio: 1 Nurse per 1132 students Nurses needed for CDC 1/750 ratio: 65 Nurses needed for 1 per school: 32 |
In 2014, N.C. PASH played a role in securing 11 more School Nurse positions!
School Nurses are a basic NEED in a School
- Every Teacher deserves a school nurse so they can teach.
- Every parent deserves a school nurse so they can be confident that their child is safe at school.
- Every child deserves a school nurse so they can be healthy and safe at school.