The Virtual Health Office
April 2020
Nurse Mel Checking In
Hope everyone is staying healthy, busy at home, and navigating this new lifestyle. Although I will not be seeing everyone in person I plan to reach out monthly with health updates, information, and offer help from the virtual health office! This month I am including information on Autism Awareness Month, and COVID-19 information(only a little because I know we are overloaded with it).
Feel free to contact me: mgevans@chicousd.org
STUDENT MEDICATIONS
I called all parents/guardians last week to arrange for them to pick up/ drop off of medications in the health office. If you have a student with medical supplies/medications, and were not contacted for pick up please call the your school or send me an email.
MEDICAL NEEDS
Do you have a student who needs any assistance with medical referrals, etc.? With the loss of jobs, comes changes in insurance and providers, however many clinics (including Ampla and North Valley Indian Health), are still taking appointments/new patients with non urgent appointments being conducted through telemed! If you know of a student who may need assistance please let me know!
COVID-19: I will keep it short!
These are the websites nurses recommend:
-World health organization, for updated global statistics and how the world is handling the pandemic: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
-CDC, for great tools such as this one for discussing the virus with younger population: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/talking-with-children.html
-California Department of Public Health, for approach at a local level: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
-For urgent questions call: Butte County COVID-19 Call Center: 8 am to 5 pm, everyday: 530.552.3050
AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH
Autism affects the way a student thinks, problem solves, and is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and attention issues.
-According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States today
-4 x more likely to effect boys.
-Autism affects 70 million people worldwide.
-Early intervention is key, autism can be reliably diagnosed around age 2, but the average age of diagnosis is 4.
How can you and your students participate in increasing autism awareness?
-April 2 is Autism Awareness Day, but you can celebrate all month!
-Wear blue! How about your kindness shirt (thanks Brooke!), with some nice blue pajama pants?
-Shop local and support a business that provides autism services: https://www.littleredhen.org/pages/boutique still has an open online store!
-Educate, and practice inclusion. Check it out, Disney’s Fancy Nancy episode for April featuring a character with autism: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2020/03/31/fancy-nancy-sesame-street-autism-episodes/28080/
-Take the kindness challenge through https://www.autismspeaks.org/kindness/spreadkindness.
Health & Wellness Resources for Families
Chico Unified has been working hard to increase health and wellness resources for our students and families. We are excited to share recent additions that help foster the health, safety and well-being of students, staff and parents.
FEEDING STUDENTS
Bidwell Junior
Chico Junior
Chapman Elementary
Citrus Elementary Schools.
WORLD HEALTH DAY - April 7th
April 16: National Healthcare Decisions Day
National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.