Mission The mission of the New Haven Heath Department Bureau of Nursing is to ensure an optimal level of wellness for a culturally diverse urban community by promoting and encouraging a healthy lifestyle for its citizenry. The Bureau of Nursing provides professional expertise so that schools and community health needs are identified, assessed and monitored with emphasis on safety and the prevention of disease. This is accomplished through the delivery of health services, education and counseling in collaboration with other city departments, community agencies and resources. School Health Program The primary focus of school health is wellness, with the emphasis on preventive service and health promotion activities. The New Haven Department of Health Bureau of Nursing is delegated the responsibility for maintaining school nursing services by the Board of Education. The major elements of the school health program are mandated by the CT Education Laws e.g., PA 80--440, An Act Concerning School Health, and P.A. 94-142, Education of All Handicapped Children Act., etc. The Bureau of Nursing provides health services to approximately 22,000 students in grades Pre-K through Grade 12 in both the public and non-public schools. Role of the School Nurse The school nurse insures that students are healthy enough to learn and minimizes the time lost in school due to illness or other prolonged disability. This is accomplished through proper assessment, referral and follow-up care, as well as appropriate communication with the student's health care provider. Oftentimes the school nurse is the only consistent health professional the student sees allowing the nurse to advocate for students and helping them develop a healthy lifestyle. Specific duties of the School Nurse include: Prevention Activities Health screenings, referral and follow-up for: age appropriate physicals, immunizations, vision, hearing, blood pressure, hemoglobin, posture Health counseling and guidance Communicable disease control Assessment, emergency care, referral and follow-up for illness and injuries at school Counseling student's parents/guardians as appropriate Case Management Activities Maintaining cumulative health record on each student Administering prescribed medications Providing specialized physical health care Monitoring chronic illnesses with appropriate care as directed Participating in PPT, IEP, and Mental Health Conferences Health Promotion Activities Encourages universal precautions in school environment Monitoring of nuisance diseases such as head lice, ringworm, scabies, etc. Health education/resource for students, families and teachers Liaison between the school, student, family and community health providers Contact Info Kathy Carbone, RN Director New Haven Health Dept. Bureau of Nursing 54 Meadow Street New Haven, CT 06519 Telephone: 946-6364