Health Services

Health Services are services provided for students to assess, protect, and promote health. Research shows that children learn better and experience school success more readily if their health needs are addressed.

Comprehensive, high quality health services on-site at the school or through an effective referral system to the community leads to student achievement, improved test scores, increased attendance, and engagement in learning.

Health Services Professionals

Qualified professionals such as physicians, nurses, dentists, health educators, and other allied health personnel provide these health services to:

• ensure access or referral to primary health care services or both,
• foster appropriate use of primary health care services,
• prevent and control communicable disease and other health problems,
• provide emergency care for illness or injury,
• promote and provide optimum sanitary conditions for a safe school facility and school environment, and
• provide educational and counseling opportunities for promoting and maintaining individual, family, and community health.

Health Services Requirements

The health services that are provided in Rhode Island schools are guided by the School Health Programs (216-RICR-20-10-4 (See the frequently asked questions - FAQs - about the school health regulations). These regulations apply to both public and non-public schools. Required services include screenings, records review, acute care, chronic disease management, and health risk prevention.

• School Health Manual

  The

  Rhode Island School Health Manual Model Guidelines
development project was sponsored by the Rhode Island Department of Education in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health. This project was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant funding, Promoting Adolescent Health through School-Based HIV/STD Prevention and School-Based Surveillance.

These model guidelines serve as a tool and reference point for policy development, protocols and procedures, as needed, in a school health program. Utilization of these model guidelines is encouraged to develop or supplement district and non-public school health manuals.

The Rhode Island Departments of Education and Health wish to thank the RI Certified School Nurse Teacher Association and all RI school nurse teachers for providing expertise and oversight for the provision of school health services and promotion of health education (NASN) and for their continued dedication to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all RI students to learn.

A special acknowledgement is extended to the state School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), Health Services sub-committee members Linda Mendonca, RN, MSN, MEd, NCSN; Patricia Raymond, RN, MPH; Judith Russell, BSN, CSNT; Midge Sabatini, RN, MS, EdD; and Rhonda Sexton, RN, MEd, CSNT for their continued support, guidance, and contributions during the development process of this manual.

Click hereto download a desktop version or to print a copy of the RI School Health Manual Model Guidelines.