Improving school health services in Wisconsin

Our children need quality school health services; however quality indicators are lacking to assess school health services. This study was conducted to (a) develop a school health services assessment tool and (b) with that tool, assess indicators in Wisconsin. Development of the tool included: environmental scan, web-based searches, statute review, national standards review, advisory committee input and piloting. Assessment of Wisconsin school health services included: data collection from up to 426 school districts using an electronically-disseminated survey. Results are pending (available Spring 2012), and will include level of adherence to state statutes, national standards, and evidence-based practices in the areas of policy and procedure (e.g., communicable diseases, pupil records) and services (e.g., medication administration, health education curriculum). Identified gaps (statewide) will then be addressed through the development of resources and tools, which will improve the infrastructure and delivery of health services thus taking steps to improve school health services across Wisconsin. In addition, the collective results of the assessment can be used to: demonstrate the need for changes in school health services; support policy changes to improve school health services; benchmark changes in school health services over time; challenge schools to undergo quality improvement initiatives; demonstrate the significant role that school nurses and others play in supporting child health. In addition, this tool can be a template for other states and school districts. The school health services assessment tool and the statewide assessment results are another step in improving school health services and, ultimately, supporting the well-being of children.