Office of School Health

HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL STAFF  

As many of you know, Haiti has had a devastating earthquake that has left destruction, injuries and deaths in its trail.  Many Haitian immigrants live in and around the five boroughs, specifically Brooklyn and Queens. If student’s and their families need further assistance, there are several agencies that can provide additional help and crisis information.  We have also provided links to several documents that might be of use when talking to students about this disaster.

Other agencies to call upon include:

• Caribbean Women’s Health Association: 718-630-2197
• Caribbean House Health Center: 718-778-0198
• Haitian Centers Council: 718-940-2200
• Haup-Haitian Americans United For Progress In Queens: 718-527-3776
• Haitian Americans United for Progress, 221-05 Linden BLVD, Cambria Hts, NY 718-527-3776
• Haitian Consulate of NY (Info on Families in Haiti), 271 Madison Avenue, NYC, NY, 212-697-9767
• Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, 314 Maple Street –Room 28, Brooklyn, NY 11225, 718-735-4660
• Bedford Haitian Community Center (HBCC), 1534 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216, 718-756-0600
• Association for Haitian Social Workers, 129-04 Hook Creek Blvd, Rosedale, NY, 718-525-8212
• Haitian American Cultural and Educational Foundation, 208-11 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY, 718-426-7038 

Tips for Talking to Children and Youth After Traumatic Events

How to Help Children After a Disaster

After a Disaster: A Guide for Parents and Teachers

Visit the DOE's  H1N1 information page which includes daily attendance data.

The Office of School Health (OSH) is a joint program of the New York City Department of Education and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). OSH provides health services and preventive services to DOE students.  

Please see the categories below for information about services provided by the Office of School Health:

Mandatory for Entry into the NYC School School System

• NEW Medical Requirements for New School Entrants for 2010-2011 School Year 
• Child & Adolescent Health Examination Form (CH-205).  This form replaces the New Admission Examination Form 211S.
• Immunization Compliance: OSH works closely with the ISC Health Directors to monitor compliance with State immunization requirements. For more information, please click here .  
• Tuberculosis : To this day, Tuberculosis remains a public health concern in New York City school system. OSH works closely with the ISC Health Directors to monitor compliance with TB testing.

School or Student Specific Services

• Assistive technology   is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a person with a disability.
• Asthma: More than 10% of our elementary school children suffer from asthma. By ensuring that students have an appropriate plan for treating asthma, we can improve health and reduce school absences. For more information, please click here . View the American Lung Association's  Open Airways for Schools Brochure .
• Condom Availability Program: As part of the mandated New York City DOE HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, all high schools are required to have a Health Resource Room where free condoms, health information, and health referrals are available to students. For more information, please click here .
• Dental Health: Many schools host dental clinics operated by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or by other providers. Services available at these clinics range from dental screenings to orthodontics.
• Health Services/Section 504 Accommodation: OSH manages the processes surrounding students needing medication administration, medically-prescribed treatment, glucose monitoring, insulin pump maintenance, and other Section 504 and Individualized Education Program (IEP) services. For more information, please click here .
• Mental Health: School-based mental health services play a vital role in addressing behavioral and emotional difficulties that threaten to interfere with a child’s ability to perform academically. When left untreated, children’s mental health problems may interfere with their readiness and motivation to learn. OSH facilitates partnerships with mental health providers by enhancing the accessibility of mental health resources and programs in our schools. Our goal is to implement and create effective ways of increasing school-based access to mental health services for underserved youth populations. For more information, please click here .
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) identifies occupational and physical therapy as related services for eligible children ages 3-21 years who require assistance to benefit from a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).
• School-Based Health Centers: There 122 School-Based Health Centers (SBHC) serving 252 schools. SBHCs bring the services of a doctor's office to the school so students avoid health-related absences and get support to succeed in the classroom. When a child is healthy they are more likely to perform better and learn more. Poor health has a direct impact on a student’s ability to learn and succeed in school. For more information, please click here .
• School Nurses: OSH places nurses in approximately 60% of NYCDOE schools each year. School nurses provide first aid services to all students, and also provide skilled nursing services to those students with a documented need.
• Vision Screening: OSH is improving its vision program to ensure that all children are screened, and that those with serious vision problems receive the evaluation and treatment they need. National data indicate that about 25% of students need glasses by the time they reach high school. Furthermore, about 3% of children suffer from amblyopia, a condition that may result in blindness in one eye if not detected and treated before age seven. For more information, please click here .

General Programs/Services and Other Information

• AED/CPR Program: New York State law requires that schools participate in an Automated External Defibrillator program. Each of our over 1400 schools is a Public Access Defibrillation site. OSH works with a vendor to provide service to the AED’s, and to provide CPR and AED training to our staff. For more information, please click here .
• Automated Student Health Record (ASHR): This tool is available to school nurses in all elementary and intermediate schools. It has greatly expanded the ability of school nurses to care for students. It also assures that records are immediately available when a student transfers from one school to another.
• Fitness: OSH is working closely with the Office of Fitness and Health Education to implement a new fitness program. Components include the Physical Best curriculum, the NYC FITNESSGRAM Fitness Assessment program and the C.H.A.M.P.S. Middle School Sports and Fitness league. For more information, please click here .
• Health Education: OSH supports the efforts of the Office of Fitness and Health Education to implement comprehensive health education, including HIV/AIDS instruction; to collaborate with the NYC DOHMH on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and other initiatives; and to provide professional development and technical assistance to the field. For more information, please click here .
• Health Insurance: Almost all children in New York City public schools are eligible for public health insurance at minimal or no cost. School records show that approximately 10% of our school children are uninsured. OSH collaborates with the Human Resources Administration to provide access to public health insurance to our students and their families through the schools. For more information, please click here .
• Home Instruction: OSH reviews inquiries regarding home instruction based on medical needs.
• Transportation Requests: OSH doctors review transportation requests based on health issues for students with Individualized Education Programs in specific areas.

• Wellness Policy: In the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, the U.S. Congress established a requirement for school districts that participate in federally funded school meal program(s) to develop and implement a wellness policy.   DOE adopted a Wellness Policy in 2006, and revised it in 2010 to align with the updated Chancellor’s Regulation A-812 (Competitive Foods). The Wellness Policy seeks to promote the health and well-being of our students, while taking into account competing priorities and the availability of funds. DOE engaged and continues to engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals and other interested community members in policy development and review. For more information and to read the revised draft of the 2010 NYC DOE Wellness Policy, please click here. Comments and questions may be emailed to Wellness@schools.nyc.gov.

Health Related Topics

Communicable Disease/ Environmental & Food-Borne Illnesses: In suspected cases of communicable disease, environmental illness, or food-borne illness, schools will immediately notify OSH, which will conduct an investigation. If the investigation results indicate that notification of the school community is warranted, OSH will provide principals with letters to be distributed in classrooms and through the regular mail.

Obesity: Almost half of elementary school children are overweight and obese. Many are not physically fit. DOE has developed several initiatives to deal with these issues. OSH is developing and overseeing the implementation of a new fitness program for NYC schools. In addition to the fitness initiatives, OSH works with the School Food program to improve the quality of student meals and encourage participation in the universal free breakfast program. The Department of Health has a helpful publication for parents titled Helping Children Reach a Healthy Weight. This publication is also available in Chinese and Spanish.

Drink Low-Fat Milk: In an effort to help reduce childhood obesity, the Health Department and the Department of Education strongly encourage everyone ages 2 and older to drink 1% or fat-free milk rather than whole milk. Please distribute a letter from Chancellor Klein and Mental Hygiene Commisioner Frieden to families at your school.  This letter is also available in Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian-Creole | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Urdu  

Pediculosis (Head Lice): For more information, please click here . 

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. They are usually active at night when people are sleeping. For additional information regarding bed bugs view the Bed Bug Fact Sheet. This fact sheet is also available in Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian-Creole | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Urdu. If a bed bug is found in a classroom, a specimen will be collected. Instructions on collecting a specimen can be found in the Bed Bug Kit. A letter will also go out to parents. This letter is also available in Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian-Creole | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Urdu.

Intimate Partner Violence affects tens of thousands of NYC teens and adults every year. Family members and friends are also impacted. To learn more about intimate partner violence and teen dating violence, and access available resources, please visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/tcny/tcny09.shtml

Prevent Window Falls: Open windows offer relief from the summer heat, but they can pose hazards for small children. To protect children from falls, the Health Department urges New Yorkers to make sure window guards are in place. 

The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is a nationally replicated, evidence-based, nurse home-visiting program for vulnerable first-time mothers.  The Health Department oversees nine NFP sites throughout all five boroughs.  NFP helps families improve maternal and child health, build a secure and nurturing relationship between parent and child, and reach education and employment goals.  First-time mothers must enroll in NFP by their 28^th week of pregnancy.  Registered nurses, who follow a structured curriculum, make an average of two home visits per month during pregnancy and until the infant’s second birthday.  Eligible students can be referred by completing a simple form.  

STAPH / MRSA:  
     
         Guidelines for Schools on Preventing Staph/MRSA Infections 

         Sample Letter to Parents - (for Principals) 
        This letter is also available in Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Korean | Spanish | Urdu

         Information on MRSA for School Health Professionals

         Letter to Principals and Parent Coordinators (10-29-07)

         Letter to Community Members - English (10-30-07)  
        This letter is also available in Albanian | Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Hatian-Creole | Korean  
            Polish  |  Punjabi  |  Russian  |  Spanish | Turkish | Urdu  

         Questions and Answers: STAPH/MRSA Skin Infections  -- Updated 10/31/07             
        This document is also available in  Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Hatian-Creole | Korean   
             Russian  |  Spanish |  Urdu

         Children Under 12 years Handwashing Poster 

         Adult Handwashing Poster 

         CDC Link to Questions and Answers About MRSA in Schools 

         Link to Bureau of Communicable Disease - NYCDOHMH - MRSA STAPH Infection


Additional Resources 

Directory of Nursing Directors

Directory of School Health DOHMH Regional Offices

Health Contacts

Health Directors

Resources/Tools for DOE Occupational and Physical Therapists

Resources/Tools for Agency Occupational and Physical Therapists

To visit the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s School Health Web site, please click here .

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Bureau of Immunization Web Site

    Department of Health Publications
        City Health Information 
        NYC Vital Signs

To visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Web site, please click here .

Forms: for more information, please click here .