School Health Programs

Monitoring of respiratory illness at schools is one of the most important indications of flu in the community and MCDPH has been doing it since 2001. A web-based system was created in response to the H1N1 pandemic to facilitate reporting of respiratory and gastrointestinal absences at schools. Participation is voluntary and the number of participating schools varies each year. It is very simple and easy to use. Most schools have the main office or school nurses report on this information.

For more information click here to view the flyer.

Safe Kids Maricopa County

Safe Kids Maricopa County (SKMC) is a local coalition established as a non-profit organization since 1994. Maricopa County Department of Public Health is the lead agency for the coalition. The coordinator for the SKMC is a Public Health employee who is the contact person between the local coalition and Safe Kids Worldwide. SKMC is dedicated to the reduction of unintentional childhood deaths and injuries across the region. Coalition members sponsor special events-such as bike rodeos, health fairs, car seat safety checks, and demonstrations to help prevent pediatric deaths and injuries. The coalition is represented by members from a variety of organizations. For more information, contact Zoraida Ettrick or visit the website.

Child Care Nurse Consultants provide guidance on improving health and safety in the early education and care setting. Conduct on-site assessments of daily practices and staff trainings. Provide recommendations on implementing policies that support state regulations and Caring for Our Children best practices. For more information, please click here.

Community Health Nurses serve as liaisons to school health personnel. They provide ongoing health/continuing education on a variety of topics (e.g. immunization updates, recognizing child abuse, communicable disease reporting). They also provide guidance on immunization best practices to allied health program at local colleges and universities.

Community-based Trainings flyer [PDF]

To request and schedule community health education, please click here Community Health Education.

Disease surveillance nurses receive and investigate reports of many communicable disease reports. They also provide guidance on disease control measures (e.g. prophylactic treatment, exemption policies, parent notification) based on state health code, CDC guidelines, and standards of practice.

For more information on disease reporting please visit the website: Disease Reporting.

• Reporting Requirements for School Administrators, Child Care Establishments and Shelters

• Communicable Disease Reporting Form

BECOME A VFC PROVIDER. Contact Jennifer Davison at (602) 506-6373/(602) 506-6699 or Davisonj001@mail.maricopa.gov.

Immunization nurses provide immunization services to children 0 – 18. Our clinics are a primary school nurse resource and referral for uninsured or underinsured families. Our nurses provide school health personnel with guidance on state immunization requirements. We also collaborate with multiple school districts in establishing school-based immunization programs.

Please visit one of our 3 clinic locations.

Childhood Immunization Schedules

• 0-6 years old

• 7-18 years old

• Catch-up Schedule

Registered Dietitians with Maricopa County Office of Nutrition Services are available for in-classroom nutrition education presentations and resource material to help meet your district’s wellness policy.
Learn More

Guides to Download:

• Activity Breaks for Classrooms
• School Wellness Guide

School Gardens

On the School Gardens Resource page, you will find plenty of information and direct links to help you plan your school garden, where to get grants, food safety practices, and garden curricula. For more information, visit the website.

Maricopa County's Office of Oral Health administers the Arizona Department of Health Services' School-based Dental Sealant Program and the Delta Dental Foundation of AZ Sealant Program. These programs provide dental screenings and sealants to 2nd and 6th grade children attending schools where at least 40% of the students participate in the Arizona Department of Education National School Lunch Program. These preventive services are at no cost to the school or child. Interested schools can call to check their eligibility and get additional information.

For more information contact the Dental Sealant Program Coordinator or visit the website.

First Teeth First

Maricopa County’s Office of Oral Health administers First Teeth First, a First Things First funded program; provides basic oral screenings, fluoride varnish and education to children ages 0-5. Services are provided at preschools that are located in the following First Things First regions: Northwest Maricopa, Southwest Maricopa and Northeast Maricopa. For more information, please visit our website www.firstteethfirst.org or call (602) 372-4650.

Schools are required to report outbreaks of infectious diseases (e.g. diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, pertussis, etc.) under Arizona Administrative Code A.A.C. R9-6-203 and ARS Title 36. After an outbreak is reported, epidemiologists work with the school in several ways:

For more information contact the Office of Epidemiology at 602.372.2605 or visit the website.

Safe Routes to School

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health's Safe Routes to School Program focuses on the safety of children who are going to and from school. This program examines environmental conditions around schools (i.e. sidewalks and safe neighborhoods), conducts projects and activities that improves bike safety and pedestrian safety, aids in the reduction of traffic and air pollution, and also helps to increase physical activity for young children. The SRTS program holds many events throughout the school year that aim to promote safe walking and bicycling conditions. For more information, contact Zoraida Ettrick or visit the website.

Safety, Nutrition, Activity and Care for Kids (SNACK)

Safety, Nutrition, Activity and Care for Kids (SNACK) program works in the Northwest Valley community to make kids safer, healthier and happier. The SNACK team is a combination of Health Educators, Dietitians, Car Seat Specialists and a Resource Coordinator that are here to help you, your child and your child care center or preschool. For more information, visit the website.

Do you have a club or student group that wants to advocate for a healthier community? Check out the resources below or contact rebeccahenry@mail.maricopa.gov to learn more about local resources, trainings and getting involved in local youth advocacy efforts.

www.venomocity.com

www.tobaccofreekids.org

www.kickbuttsday.org

www.dosomething.org

When you call the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline, expert coaches work you through the quitting process. Go at your own pace using telephone or Web-based quit services.

Call 1-800-556-6222 or go online www.ashline.org

If you are an adolescent and have been directed to attend a court ordered tobacco diversion program please contact lanigorzen@mail.maricopa.gov to request information.

Occassionally a student or students will come in contact with a bat or other potentially rabid animal. When this occurs, it is important to identify all of the students who may have had contact with the animal and administer prophylaxis if necessary. Our office assists with these activities.

For more information contact the Office of Epidemiology at 602.372.2605 or visit the website.

FindHelpPhoenix was developed to give people of Phoenix and the West Valley an online way of locating health and social services for themselves. The website is easy to use, bilingual, and can be used at any time and location where there is internet access.

FindHelpPhoenix has 20 categories of resources. Users can look for medical services, youth leadership opportunities, and parenting programs, among other resources. There are over 950 services to choose from, and information is fact-checked for accuracy via information available in the public domain. The map is developed to be interactive with the community. Please add any non-profit resources that haven’t been included in the site by clicking on the "Tell Us About New Services/Changes to Services" icon located in the upper right corner of the map page. FindHelpPhoenix strives to be accurate and comprehensive. We welcome resources from the East Valley as well, as our plans are to expand to cover services all over Maricopa County.

Try it out! FindHelpPhx.org.

The School Health Index (SHI) developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is an assessment tool that will provide structure and direction to your school’s efforts to improve health and safety policies and programs.

Learn More

The Maricopa County Streets of Success (MC-SOS) Program is a comprehensive youth development program designed to support teens and their parents. MC-SOS offers Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program® (TOP) after school groups for teens ages 12-17 who live in West, Central, and South Phoenix. TOP®, an evidence based intervention, combines curriculum-guided group discussions and community service learning. TOP® gives teens the chance to have fun, make new friends, learn about themselves, and make a positive change in the community.MC-SOS also offers parent workshops designed to help parents talk with their teens about “tough issues” like puberty, sexuality, and substance use.

For more information visit their website at www.streetsofsuccess.org and Like them on Facebook here!

Upcoming Events for Parents:

• Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Maricopa County Streets of Success (MC-SOS) Program is a comprehensive youth development program designed to support teens and their parents. MC-SOS offers Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program® (TOP) after school groups for teens ages 12-17 who live in West, Central, and South Phoenix. TOP®, an evidence based intervention, combines curriculum-guided group discussions and community service learning. TOP® gives teens the chance to have fun, make new friends, learn about themselves, and make a positive change in the community.MC-SOS also offers parent workshops designed to help parents talk with their teens about “tough issues” like puberty, sexuality, and substance use.

For more information visit their website at www.streetsofsuccess.org and Like them on Facebook here!

The Maricopa County Streets of Success (MC-SOS) Program is a comprehensive youth development program designed to support teens and their parents. MC-SOS offers Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program® (TOP) after school groups for teens ages 12-17 who live in West, Central, and South Phoenix. TOP®, an evidence based intervention, combines curriculum-guided group discussions and community service learning. TOP® gives teens the chance to have fun, make new friends, learn about themselves, and make a positive change in the community.MC-SOS also offers parent workshops designed to help parents talk with their teens about “tough issues” like puberty, sexuality, and substance use.

For more information visit their website at www.streetsofsuccess.org and Like them on Facebook here!