Children learn best when they are healthy. Many learning opportunities can be lost because students cannot see or hear well, or are in pain from a toothache. Some students miss school because their asthma has not been treated using the latest medical knowledge or because they do not have all of their required immunizations. Health insurance, regular medical, dental and vision checkups and having a place where children can receive health care on a regular basis (a “health care home”) are important in helping students stay focused on learning.

Healthy Kids/Healthy Minds: Linking with Health Resources

The Office of Specialized Services (OSS) is committed to assisting families to ensure that health problems do not stand in the way of learning and achievement. As part of the Healthy Kids/Healthy Minds Campaign, School nurses participate in an aggressive public health outreach campaign to help link students with the services they need to stay healthy, including insurance providers for low-cost or free CHIP and Medicaid, as well as:
 
Oral Health Initiative:  Collaboration with  providers of dental care, including Ronald McDonald Dental Care Mobile, Penn  Smiles, Kid Smiles and Mobile Dentists to bring a range of dental care  services to students and their families

Vision Care: Collaboration with local vision care providers such as the Eagles Youth  Partnership, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and others to provide glasses and to  correct school nurse-identified  vision screen failures.

Asthma: In conjunction with the Office of Physical  Education, Health Education, Safety and Sports Administration, program to  identify and refer students with asthma and to educate students, staff and  parents about asthma management.

Public School Health Fund: The PSHF is a private  foundation that assists with payment of costs for correction of some public  school student health problems when there is no other means to pay, provided  that parents have met financial need  qualifications.

Children's Health Link

2008-09: "A New Year - Making Changes that Matter for Student Health