The American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health (COSH) defines school health as an integration of wellness, safety, growth, learning and development in the lives of school-aged children and adolescents within the context of their school, and with the coordinated alliance of the family and the medical home. Coordinated School Health includes eight interrelated components: health education, physical education, health services, counseling, psychological and social services, nutrition services, healthy and safe school environment, health promotions for staff and family and community involvement. The goal is to help young people establish healthy lifestyle behaviors and choices to increase health and well-being and reduce disease. 

Marshall County Schools student health program's mission is to provide a safe and healthy environment in which students have the optimum opportunity to benefit from education and attain their maximum potential. Our school nurses collaborate with the Alabama State Department of Education and Alabama Department of Public Health to provide specialized health care while maintaining state mandated health regulation compliance. We also implement strategies to prevent the spread of contagious illnesses and address potential health issues. We provide coordinated school-based nursing services to ensure the delivery of quality individualized health services for students to facilitate daily school attendance and enhance academic achievement.  

Students

Conducts regular vision, hearing, dental and scoliosis screenings of students and facilitates referrals for students requiring more in-depth evaluation.
Identifies health problems that may interfere with learning and coordinates treatment referrals.
Provides first aid, emergency care and prescribed medical treatments for children during the school day.
Promotes the health and safety of all children by teaching and counseling them concerning the prevention of disease, illness and injury.
Immunization surveillance for compliance with Alabama state requirements.

Parents and Community

Consults with parents concerning the identified health needs of their children and provides advice and referral assistance.
Provides preventive health education and guidance to parents and information concerning community health resources.
Assists parents and their physicians with the proper administration of prescribed medical treatments by providing staff training, monitoring and direct services as needed.

Personnel

Serves as a health education resource person for lesson planning in health and safety.  In addition, conducts in-service workshops with employees concerning the prevention, identification and treatment of communicable/transmittable diseases and other health threats and informs teachers of the health conditions of individual students and what their role will be in the overall treatment plan.  Our team promotes the health and well-being of school personnel through counseling and consultation.

The student health program is staffed by Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses.