Giving a voice to school nursing in Georgia

Georgia Nursing, Aug-Oct 2002 by Carmon, Myra

President's Message

For my first article as President of GNA, I would like to update you on the history and status of school nursing in Georgia. GNA has a tremendous amount of involvement in this history and efforts to put school nurses in the schools.

It is that time of year again to focus on children returning to school. For the past two years, the number of school nurses in Georgia schools has increased. This is partially due to the passing of HB 1187 (which is the Education Reform Bill) in 2000. The bill states "each board of education shall establish policies and procedures regarding a school health nurse program. Such school nurse programs shall be staffed by licensed health care professionals." GNA advocated for this bill and suggested language changes to include an RN in each school but the suggested change was not accepted, primarily due to funding implications.

Over the past decade, the advocacy for school nursing has been on the forefront of GNA's legislative efforts. Giving a voice to School Nursing is occurring gradually in Georgia thanks to efforts of many agencies including GNA with members who have served on the Georgia Partnership for School Health over the past 10 years. Prior to the formation of the Georgia Partnership for School Health (GPSH), GNA established a School Nurse Task Force that formed a collaboration with groups to advocate for school health programs. This group was instrumental in introducing legislation for school nurses in the past. This group met each year at convention to discuss school health status.

History and Need for School Nurses in Georgia

It is apparent that "Education and health are interdependent systems. Healthy children are in a better position to acquire knowledge and no curriculum is brilliant enough to compensate for a hungry stomach or a distracted mind." Georgia's children are less healthy than children in other states. According to 2001 statistics from Kids Count Annual Survey, Georgia ranks 44th in the health and well being of children. Forty-five percent of all fourth graders in Georgia are below grade level, and 12% of all children drop out of high school-ranking Georgia 41st in the nation. In addition, 22% (1999) of all Georgia's children live in poverty. Approximately 77% of the state's 1.4 million school children are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program, putting their family incomes below the 185% poverty level ($31,542 per year for a family of four.) Other problems include dental disease and lack of health insurance. There are approximately 286,740 children with no source of regular insurance-based care, many of whom are eligible for PeachCare for Kids. Approximately 70% of these children are between the ages of 6 and 18.

Research has shown that poverty and the lack of insurance coverage play a major role in affecting the health status of children since uninsured children are less likely to see a doctor. There are many more disturbing statistics about the children and adolescents in Georgia. But the fact remains that we are just beginning to provide services for children in the place that they spend most of their time and transportation to and from that location is not an issue. School nurses can provide services and referrals to these children in the schools that will facilitate healthy behaviors and increase their educational potential.

GNA's Participation in the Georia Partnership for School Health

Since the beginning of the Georgia Partnership for School Health (GPSH), GNA members have served in leadership positions in the organization including positions on the Board of Directors. The GPSH is composed of approximately 40 organizations whose vision is for Georgia's children to be healthy and to learn to be healthy. The GPSH proposes a School Health Program that includes the eight components advocated for by CDC. They include: 1) a Healthy School Environment; 2) School Health Education; 3) School Health Services; 4) School-based physical education; 5) School Nutrition; 6) School-Based Counseling, psychological and social services; 7) Employee Health Promotion & School, Parent, Family, and 8) Community Health Promotion Partnerships. The member of the GPSH advocate and support all components to have a comprehensive school health program. School Nurse Programs and legislation have been supported by this group.

In 1998 GNA members addressed the need for school nurses and funding with Governor-elect (at that time) Roy Barnes. Then GNA members met with Senator Nadine Thomas, Commissioner Russ Toal and other representatives of Governor Barnes Office to discuss the possibility of funding school nurse programs through the Tobacco Settlement Funds. Members of the GPSH and GNA Commission on Legislation/Public Policy (previously named Cabinet on Governmental Affairs) wrote the proposal for the Tobacco Settlement Funds. When HB 1187 was passed, the $30 million dollars to fund the school nurse program was approved.

Implementation of the School Nurse Program in Georgia