The School Health Programs help child care facilities and schools meet the health needs of their children so all are healthy and ready to learn.
Our programs include:
School Nursing
Health and education are dependent on each other. Healthy children learn better.
Buncombe County Department of Health contracts with Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools to provide school health services. Our team is integral part of the comprehensive school health program promoting the health and safety of students. School Nursing services are available to reach 30,000 school-aged youth in the public schools.
To optimize learning, they help each child achieve and maintain their best possible health through:
- Health Assessment and Referrals
- Training of school staff to handle daily health needs of students including medication administration, non-invasive procedures, and care for chronic illness (diabetes, asthma, seizures, life threatening allergies and other concerns.)
- Coordinate healthcare for students with special health care needs
- When available, will see students for health concerns,
- Provide linkages to the student’s medical home and other health services.
- Follow-up on health screenings to assure students get the care they need.
- Provide health information and education to students, school staff, and families on a variety of health matters including hygiene, communicable disease prevention, safety, growth and development, and other topics.
- Assist with immunization compliance and school safety.
- Advises the principal and family about infectious and contagious diseases.
- Reports to parents, school personnel, physicians, and other agencies on school health matters.
- Maintains confidentiality of individual student health status.
Growth and Development (5th Grade):
About the time they reach the 5th grade, our children begin the very important stage of development called puberty. There are many new things that are happening to their bodies, both on the outside and on the inside.
We think it is important that young adolescents have a clear understanding about these changes. We want them to know that that these events happen to all boys and girls, but not at the same time. School nurses from the Department of Health visit 5th grade classes in both Asheville City and Buncombe County schools to teach students about the normal changes that will be occurring. The presentation covers the emotional, social and physical changes of puberty and the need for more personal hygiene.
In order to create a comfortable environment for students to ask questions, boys and girls are separated into different classrooms for this program. Parents are welcome to attend the program with their child and to view the outline prior to the presentation.
Growth and Development Parent Permission Forms:
Growth and Development Class Outlines:
Video Preview: Under Educator Kit section - view “boys” or “girls” videos online.
Resource for parents: KidsHealth.org - Type “puberty” in the search bar.
Head Start / Early Head Start Program
Provides nursing services to Head Start (Community Action Opportunity) and Early Head Start (Asheville City Pre-school)
A registered nurse completes screenings and assists with medical needs of all children enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start Programs. The nurse provides staff training for the care of children with special needs, and for OSHA, CPR, and first-aid requirements, as needed.
Dental Programs
Elementary School Dental Screening, Assessment, and Referral
Buncombe County is partnering with the Eblen Kimmel Charities to provide dental screening to kindergarten, second and fifth grades in selected schools. Dental screenings are scheduled in conjunction with selected Buncombe County schools’ health fairs, which take place in the fall each school year. Students determined to need immediate dental treatment are referred to dentist. When needed, the School Nurse will assist the parent in obtaining dental care for their child.
Second Grade Dental Sealant and Oral Health Education Program
The Children’s Dental Sealant program provides sealants and basic oral health education to 2nd grade students in targeted Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools. The program operates through strong community partnership with AB Tech, Eblen Kimmel Charities, and many community dentists and their dental staff.
Hours of Operation:
School Health Services are available during school hours.
How are services paid for?
School nursing services are paid for by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Mission Hospitals, Asheville City and Buncombe County School Systems, and the Buncombe County Department of Health.
For a listing of county-wide programs & services offered by Buncombe County Government, please visit our Services For Children section.