An overview of the Massachusetts Enhanced School Health Services(ESHS)program will be provided, including a description of expected outcomes and resulting data. With funding from the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program, 36 ESHS programs in local school districts were funded between 1994 and 1997; between 1997 and 2000, 18 ESHS programs were funded with an additional 8 school districts funded for the replication (or consultation) model. Beginning in 2000, with an additional 6.5 million dollars from the tobacco settlement, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is again expanding this model to include more school districts, some of which will begin to provide limited services to non-public schools based on a community model. The ESHS programs must include the following components: (1) Minimum school health service infrastructure requirements; (2) Comprehensive health education program, including tobacco prevention and cessation; (3) Plan for linkage of students with primary care providers and health insurers; (4) Development of a management information system including computerization of school health records. The achievements of the ESHS programs will be presented, including selected data regarding students' health and various service components. The funded programs have demonstrated that major improvements can be made in school health services with relatively small additional funding ($50,000 to 75,000 per program per year) targeted to meeting specific criteria.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Identify the four components of the Enhanced School Health Services Program with expected outcomes and achievements. 2. Describe selected data regarding students' health and various school health service components
Keywords: School Health, Health Care Delivery
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment as School Health Advisor