Health Central School Nurse Program

"Mrs.Sullivan?"
"Yes,Julie."
"My head hurts, can I go to the nurse?"

"Can I go to the nurse" is asked over 3.66 times a minute during school hours. In 1995, Health Central brought Registered Nurses back into the schools. Today, Health Central Foundation, in partnership with Orange County Public Schools, provides school nurses in 33 elementary, middle and high schools. Thanks to this joint venture, over 40,000 students in the West Area Learning Community were treated in the 2005-2006 school year. Last year alone, our nurses handled over 120 life-threatening situations.

Cost of a Nurse
It is the goal of Health Central Foundation to keep registered nurses caring for the children in our schools. Due to the rising costs in health care, it presents a financial challenge to Health Central Foundation to cover the cost of your school's dedicated, compassionate and hard working nurse. However, if we all work together to accomplish our goal of raising $16,500 per school, we can guarantee that your school nurse will remain in your school clinic.

In 2006, the cost of a school nurse is approximately $31,000 per year. This amount covers your nurse's salary, as well as medical and pharmaceutical supplies that are used to treat your children and school faculty. Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) has committed $14,400 per nurse (in 28 schools) in grades k-8. The high schools receive no supplemental funding from OCPS; they must fund or raise the funds of the total cost of the nurse.

The Health Central Foundation must secure the $528,000 needed to keep your nurse on your school campus.

Sponsor a child
We realize that some families may find $10 per child financially difficult. Many people want to help protect the health of our children. Why not ask a grandparent or neighbor to donate? Why not ask your business to make a donation? With a Registered Nurse on campus to care for your child, you are less likely to have to leave your job.

Many parents have championed this campaign and are calling on clubs, organizations, businesses and even churches in their area to sponsor as many as 10, 20, 50 and even 100 students. Your efforts will guarantee that boo-boo's and ow-ee's, sniffles and sneezes are treated and that the much-needed hugs are provided by the school nurse for years to come.

Today, tomorrow and in the future
The Health Central Foundation is not only planning for today's needs, but is also trying to ensure that we continue to improve the lives and health of our children.

Programs that support our school nurses include:

• Providing computers and programs for medical tracking of children's visits, screenings and chronic health conditions.
• Continuing to provide educational classes for chronically ill children and their families.
• Increasing teaching opportunities for healthy lifestyles, fitness and wellness.
• Creating a program to educate teachers on medical conditions they see every day in class (i.e. asthma, diabetes, etc.).
• Developing additional resources to sustain the monthly Children's Free Medical and Dental Clinic and increase the monthly outreach to twice per month.
• Enhancing resource network for families in need (i.e. KIDCARE insurance, vision, hearing, dental, etc).

We need your financial support to keep this safety net in place for our community.

$10.00 per student means the nurse can stay!

That's right! By your contribution of 10.00 per child annually we can guarantee the success and continuation of the school nurse program.

Documents

• Background and Summary
• Fund Raising Calendar
• Corporate Sponsorship
• High School Corporate Sponsorship
• Letter To Teachers
• Letter To Parents

Contacts