WHAT MATTERS MOST:
The Health of Children
Presentation to WVASN
November 2, 2006
Teri Harlan, President, WV School-Based Health Assembly
Kathy Verzich, President, WV Association of School Nurses
Today we will…
 Describe
the background and process
used for the May 2006 retreat of
school nurse and school-based health
center reps
 Explain the recommendations of the
participants
 Answer questions
 Ask for your endorsement
What Matters Most Retreat
May 18 and 19, 2006
 Co-sponsored by WVASN, WVDOE Office
of Healthy Schools and WVSBHA
 Purposes:
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To
explore respective roles and
responsibilities of school nurses and
school-based health centers
Identify opportunities for increased
collaboration to improve student health
13 Participants
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Dreama Burks, Mt View Wellness Center, Mingo co.
Jennifer Cox, Roane General SBHCs
Mary Grandon, Clay Co. SBHCs
Teri Harlan, New River SBHCs, Fayette/Nicholas Co. (Pres. SBHA)
Lisa Hart, Brandon Wellness Center, Barbour Co.
Jane Ishman, School Nurse, Berkeley County
Pat Mays, School Nurse and SBHC, Pleasants County
Ann Sammons, School Nurse, Raleigh Co.
Rosemary Scott, School Nurse and SBHC, Wood Co.
Dixie Showalter, Ritchie Co. Primary Care
Kathy Verzich, School Nurse, Grant Co (Pres. WVASN)
Heather Wood, School Nurse & SBHC, Cabell Co.
Robin Yearout, School Nurse & SBHC, Cabell Co.
PROCESS
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Kathy and Teri chaired the process
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Rebecca King, Becky King and Eileen
Barker served as resource persons &
coordinated arrangements
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Julie Pratt provided neutral facilitation
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Financial support covered participants’
costs
The Group’s Charge
Identify current collaboration successes
and barriers
 Identify unique and common roles of each
 Develop a framework for coordination
 Propose adoption by WVASN & WVSBHA
 Develop MOU between the two entities

Initial Retreat Discussions
 Commonalities
and distinctions
between SNs and SBHCs
 Understanding
of purposes of
WVASN and WVSBHA
In-Depth Exploration
 Shared
vision for school health
of the environment –
positive factors and barriers
 Assessment
 Recommendations
together
for working
Shared Vision
“Whatever, whenever and wherever”
Availability & accessibility
 Comprehensiveness
 Safe and welcoming
 Wellness & prevention oriented
 Supported
 Simplification
 Professional development
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Shared Vision: What’s Positive Now?
 Image
and track record
 Capable, dedicated professionals
 Funding and other support
 Collaboration
 Policy initiatives
Shared Vision: What’s in the way?
 Insufficient
people power
 Insufficient funding
 Limited physical facilities
 Misperceptions about school health
 Policies and paperwork
Conclusion
 Issues
faced by SNs and SBHCs
are similar
 Problems
county
are not unique to any
Conclusion
Participants agreed that many
identified challenges could be
addressed through a unified
effort by school nurses,
school-based health centers
and other school health
stakeholders.
Notice the smiles! Eating is more fun than working!!
Recommendations for
Collaboration
What are 6 things SNs and
SBHCs could do during the next 2
years to improve school health?
The Top 6

WVASN / WVSBHA joint planning such as:
Joint
position statement on SN/SBHC
partnership (beyond national’s)
Coordinate
100th
public policy advocacy
anniversary of school nursing
The Top 6
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Co-sponsor joint training events
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Work together on patient consent process
to overcome HIPAA & FERPA barriers
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Joint advocacy for comprehensive SH
services – health, medical, dental, vision,
prevention, mental health, social, nutrition,
access to medications,…
The Top 6
 Work
together on wellness policy and
wellness councils
 Joint
campaign on new adolescent
vaccines – SNs identify students
and work with SBHCs on
administering (“a one-day shoot”)
Other Recommendations
See page 8 of report
Possibilities for working together are
endless!
Next Steps
1.
Endorsement of the recommendations
from WVASN & WVSBHA

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Members to work on joint strategic plan
Inform incoming association presidents
WVSBHA enthusiastically endorsed 8/06
WVASN will consider today
Next Steps
2. Broaden support for collaboration by
involving other key stakeholders
3. Integrate collaboration into existing goals
and activities. (Use existing structures. Try
to avoid creating new groups!)
4. Take advantage of collaboration
opportunities as they occur
Today’s Tasks for WVASN
Q
and A
Discussion
Endorsement Decision
Thanks for your commitment to
what matters most!