Does your student have a medical condition that may impact them at school?

• See Coordinated School Health

Need support getting medical care or immunizations?

• See Immunizations and Health Assessments

Worried about your student's mental health?

• See School-Based Mental Health
• See Crisis Support Resources

Think your student may have a problem with drugs, alcohol, e-cigarettes, or vaping?

• See Student Assistance Program (SAP)  

Social-Emotional Supports

In need of school counseling information?

• See School Counseling website

How do we teach social-emotional skills in schools?

• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
• Social and Emotional Learning Teacher Resources
• Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

Is your child having behavioral difficulties?

• School Psychology website

Need to know about school-based mental health services?

• School-Based Mental Health website

Are you concerned about bullying?

• Please report your concern anonymously here.

Academics

Do you need information about what classes your student should take, college advisement, or graduation requirements?

• School Counseling 

Is your student struggling with reading, writing, or math?

• Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
• School Psychology website

Is your student struggling with organizational skills, time management, or other critical skills that impact academics?

• School Counseling website
• School Psychology website
• Social and Emotional Learning

Home & Family

Are you homeless or doubled-up with another family?

• McKinney-Vento website

In need of food assistance or other community supports?

• School Social Work website

Does your student have attendance problems?

• Truancy website
• School Social Work website

Do you need to talk with someone about your child's behavioral challenges at home?

• School Psychology website

• School staff or School Nurse will notify the parent/guardian and arrange for children to go home when a student has the following symptoms:

• • Oral temperature above 101 with behavior change or other signs of illness: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (frequent loose or watery stools), abdominal pain, severe headache, muscle aches, sore throat. (CHILD SHOULD REMAIN AT HOME UNTIL FEVER-FREE FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS).
  • Child appears severely ill (e.g., lethargic, lack of responsiveness, irritability, persistent crying, difficult breathing, or has a quickly spreading rash). Call 911 for emergency conditions.
  • Vomiting two or more times in the previous twenty-four hours unless vomiting is determined to be caused by a non-communicable condition.
  • Diarrhea that exceeds two or more stools above normal for that child.

• School Nurse or School staff will notify parents/guardians when students appear ill but do not require exclusion (Examples: an oral temperature of 100 or above, abdominal pain, headache or sore throat).
• School staff will educate students to prevent disease spread through personal hygiene measures.
• Principals will ensure that proper handwashing supplies (soap, paper towels) are maintained in all restrooms and other hand washing areas.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that it is unlikely that all head lice infestations can be prevented because young children come into head-to-head contact with each other frequently. Therefore, it is prudent for children to be taught not to share personal items such as combs, brushes and hats. Still, one should not refuse to wear protective headgear because of fear of head lice. In environments where children are together, infested children should be treated promptly to minimize the spread to others. Regular surveillance by parent/guardian is one way to detect and treat early infestations, thereby preventing the spread to others.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (Volume 135, number 5, May 2015) and the National Association of School Nurses (Head Lice Management in the School Setting Position Statement) recommend against excluding children for live lice or nits. Because a child with an active head lice infestation likely has had the infestation for one month or more by the time it is discovered and poses little risk to others from the infestation, the child should remain in class but be discouraged from close direct head contact with others. Parent/Guardian of the child should be notified on the day of discovery that prompt treatment is in the child's best interest.

• Students should be taught not to share personal items like combs, brushes, ribbons, hats and avoid direct head-to-head contact.
• The best way to interrupt a chronic lice problem is by regular checks by Parent/Guardian and early treatment with safe, affordable, over-the-counter pediculicides.
• Students with a confirmed case of head lice should be treated at once. However, never initiate treatment unless there is a clear diagnosis with living lice.
• Choose one of the non-prescription treatments on the market. Follow directions carefully. Many products require follow-up treatment in 7-10 days.
• Following treatment, the eggs or nits should be removed from the hair. Complete nit removal either by hand or with a fine-tooth comb is the most important step in resolving this problem.
• Regular nit checks are recommended for up to a month.
• Examine all persons in the household for the presence of head lice. If lice or eggs are detected, all infested persons need treatment.
• Washing, soaking, or drying items at temperatures greater than 130°F will kill stray lice or nits. Clothing (hats, coats, scarves, etc.), bedding, linens, towels should be washed in hot water. Vacuuming carpeting, upholstery, and mattresses are suggested. (Follow treatment recommendations on labels regarding clothing, etc.).
• Upon return to school, send a note with the student stating that treatment was completed. In addition, provide the name of the product used.
• To minimize the disruption to learning, class-wide screenings are not recommended
• Class notification only occurs if multiple cases are identified.

Asthma is the number one chronic disease among students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Over 14,000 CMS students have been identified with asthma. It is also one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. In an average classroom of 30 students, three students may have asthma. In addition, several students with asthma may go undiagnosed or unidentified.

If asthma symptoms are uncontrolled, students with asthma may:               

• Lose sleep because of coughing at night and then being tired the next day at school. 
• Have a hard time in school or physical activities
• Avoid physical activity, fearing that it may trigger an asthma attack
• Avoid taking their asthma medication because they do not want to be seen as "different."
• Express feelings of embarrassment, frustration and isolation.

If your child has asthma, it is very important to tell your child's school nurse, teacher, coach, and caregivers. Contact any CMS school nurse for more information or assistance managing your child's asthma.

See Asthma Education Program-LINK for additional information. 

Article: 10 Steps to Safety for Kids with Allergies and Asthma by Kathleen May, MD

Meningitis is an infection of the fluids and covering of the brain or spinal cord that bacteria can cause. While viral meningitis is fairly common, and people usually recover fully, bacterial meningitis is rare but more serious. Meningitis is spread by the close exchange of saliva and respiratory secretions through sharing of drinking glasses, cigarettes or kissing. Symptoms of bacterial meningitis include severe headache, high fever, nausea/vomiting and stiff neck. Symptoms can worsen very quickly. Therefore, children with these symptoms should be checked by a doctor right away. A vaccine against bacterial meningitis is available through private physicians and the Mecklenburg County Health Department and is recommended for children in their early teens.

• Meningococcal Meningitis flyer for College Students
• What You Need to Know About Meningococcal Disease

Influenza (the flu) is a viral infection that can cause illnesses ranging from mild to severe to life-threatening complications. Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, muscle aches, dry cough, sore throat and runny, stuffy nose. Children sometimes also have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Flu is spread through respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze or from droplets on unwashed hands. Vaccine against flu is available every year beginning in October through private physicians and at the Mecklenburg County Health Department. The vaccine is recommended for people at high risk for flu complications (the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, including asthma) and people in close contact with them (including household contacts). When vaccine supplies are in good supply, flu shots are also available for children and adults in the general public.

• CDC - The Flu
• Mecklenburg Health Department - The Flu

HPV is a common virus spread from one person to another by close intimate contact. There are about 40 types of HPV that can infect both men and women and raise the risk of cervical cancer in women. The virus lives in the body and usually causes no symptoms. Still, some people may develop a visible growth or bump. Most people with HPV do not know they are infected, so males and females can pass it on without realizing it. A new vaccine can now protect females (ages 9-26) from four major types of HPV. For more information about the HPV vaccine, check with your physician or the local Health Department.

• HPV Information
• HPV - Get Vaccinated (English) - update, download, relink
• HPV - Get Vaccinated (Spanish) - update, download, relink