The Virtual Health Office
October 2020
Navigating wellness together!
COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 news and information can be overwhelming! Here are a few valuable resources to help you during these uncertain times:
- Check out this site for great guides regarding talking to your kids about the virus, and resources to help navigate the "new normal" https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/coronavirus-how-talk-child.html?WT.ac=p-ra
- Butte County COVID-19 testing sites (some sites have changed as they are being utilized for disaster relief): https://www.buttecounty.net/Portals/21/COVID-19/COVIDTestingLocations.pdf?ver=2020-06-26-092239-917 Check out the image below for specific site information, including which sites take medical and ages.
- If you don’t have health care coverage, or you have Medi-Cal but don’t have a regular doctor, California’s new nurse advice line can help. The advice line can connect you with a nurse, day or night, to talk about COVID-19 symptoms and help connect you with local resources in your area. Call the Medi-Nurse Line: (877) 409-9052
- Educational resources regarding signs and symptoms of COVID, and MIS-C (Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs seen in children exposed to COVID-19.): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children/mis-c.html
For other COVID-19 questions and resources please visit Butte County Public Health's website: http://www.buttecounty.net/ph/COVID19.
Stop the Spread of Preventable Illness: Get Your Child's Immunizations!
- Even if your child is receiving instruction at home at this time, when schools resume for in person instruction your child will need to be up to date on immunizations to return to school - be prepared! For more information go to https://www.shotsforschool.org/ and https://eziz.org/ for updates and resources
- Weekly robo-callers have begun being sent out to students who are behind on immunizations. You may also receive a call from your student's health office.
- Avoid your student loosing crucial instructional time by getting them up to date now!
- Butte County Public Health has reported that numbers of appointments are still low since the start of shelter in place. Call today for an appointment:
- Chico Clinic: open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm
695 Oleander Ave
Chico, CA 95926
(530) 552-3959 - Oroville Clinic: open to the public on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to 5 pm
78 Table Mountain Blvd
Oroville, CA 95965
(530) 552-3918
You can also contact your student's primary provider. Medical offices are taking extra steps to make sure that well visits can happen safely during the COVID-19 outbreak, including scheduling sick visits and well-child visits during different times of the day. Many pharmacies and walk in clinics have restricted or limited hours, but are still able to give immunizations as well. For an updated list of providers, pharmacies, etc. and their current immunization schedule please contact your school nurse.
Healthy Lung Month
This month we have all started missing the blue skies and fresh air. Now more than ever it is important to protect our lungs from harmful wildfires, and other damage. Here are some helpful resources and tips to keep yourself, and our especially vulnerable young student's lungs healthy:
- Use the Air Now Page for up to date Air Quality Index (AQI), and determine how safe outdoor time is https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Chico&state=CA&country=USA
- Keep the air quality inside healthy by keeping the windows closed, using air purifiers/ creating your own box fan in the video below (extra credit science project?!):
- For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/cleaner-air-shelters.html
National ADHD Awareness Month:
ADHD (Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a very common childhood disorder that involves the brain, and is diagnosed by a medical professional. Children with ADHD may be overly active, have difficulty paying attention, or impulsive. With the current changes to schooling and the inability to go outside, families may see ADHD symptoms increase.
- A 2016 CDC study found that 9.4% of children had at been diagnosed with ADHD.
- The same study found , children with ADHD often are diagnosed with other challenging disorders: about 5 in 10 children with ADHD had a behavior or conduct problem, and about 3 in 10 children with ADHD had anxiety
Fortunately there are great resources where you can learn more about this common disorder including:
- Guidance for navigating ADHD during these uncertain times: https://chadd.org/adhd-and-covid-19/
- Advice and support from ADHD parents/guardians: https://healthunlocked.com/adhd-parents
- Why is it celebrated this October?: https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/october-is-adhd-awareness-month-why-thats-important/
- General information, diagnosis, treatment, etc: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html
World Mental Health Day
October 10, 2020 is World Mental Health Day. It is celebrated internationally. Every year, this day recognizes and brings awareness to all forms of mental health and encourages efforts in support of mental health. This day provides the opportunity for anyone working in the field of mental health to talk about what is going well in the field for bringing awareness and treatment as well as discussing what can be done better for the future. The goal is to make mental health care available for anyone anywhere in the world. Have a student or loved one who is struggling with mental health? Reach out to your schools counseling or nursing team, or check out these resources:
- The Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 provides immediate crisis counseling to people in the path of the West Coast wildfires: https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/202009140545
- Care Solace is a 24/7 service that helps get in contact with counselors in our area, reach them at 888-515-0595, email weserve@caresolace.org, or access our district’s unique page: Caresolace.com/chicofamilies
- More resource's for our Chico Unified Family: https://mailchi.mp/7d270a3ec22f/wellness-resources-for-families
Protecting Tiny Teeth and Bellies!
Our Nutrition Services Department will continue offering FREE curbside meals!
Meals are served on Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Children will receive two meals on Friday.
After those meals, keep your student's oral health fresh with FREE TOOTHBRUSH KITS! Nurses and Butte County public health are working hard to have kits ready in the next week for distribution at different sites during lunch meals! Kits vary for junior high and elementary schools. If you would like to know what days/where we will be with kits contact your school nurse!
Meals are available Monday - Friday from 11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Serving locations are:
· Bidwell Junior High
· Chico Junior High
· Citrus Elementary
· Chapman Elementary
· Emma Wilson Elementary
· Little Chico Creek Elementary
· Shasta Elementary School
· Sierra View Elementary
* Please note: Children must be present to receive a meal. Free meals are available to any child in the community age 18 years or younger (regardless of school).
Any changes or schedule updates will be posted on the Chico Unified website.
CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL NURSE!
Melanie Evans, mgevans@chicousd.org: Marsh Junior High , Parkview Elementary, Bidwell Junior High
Julie Graber, jgraber@chicousd.org: Emma Wilson Elementary, Little Chico Creek Elementary, Hooker Oak Elementary, Neal Dow Elementary
Michelle Neves Dean, mnevesdean@chicousd.org: Chico Senior High, McManus Elementary, Wildflower Elementary
Julie Scalet, jscalet@chicousd.org: Pleasant Valley High, Fairview, Sierra View Elementary
Julie Parker, jlparker@chicousd.org: Loma Vista, Marigold Elementary, Oakdale Elementary and Oakbridge
Cindy Steffen, csteffen@chicousd.org: Citrus Elementary, Rosedale Elementary, Chapman Elementary
Sherry Atkin, satkin@chicousd.org: Shasta Elementary, Chico Junior High, Forest Ranch