Partnering for Children’s Health Shelly Malin, PhD, RN Team Members: Susan Albee, BSN, RN; Susana Calderon, MSN, RN; Mary Cranston, MS, RN, Lynn Kennell, MS, RN; Michelle Mauer, BSN, RN; Susanne Marcum, BSN, RN; Yvette Pigman, BSN, RN; Carla Pohl, CNM, DNP Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing Normal, IL

Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing First public university in Illinois 22,000 students Nursing – 375 undergrads – 112 graduate students BSN, MSN, PhD, DNP (2013)

America’s Promise School Project 2 year funded project, State Farm Insurance Aligned with America’s Promise Alliance “5 Promises” Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others.

Purpose and Goals Develop sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships between public schools, the College of Nursing and the community Partner with school districts to provide rich clinical learning sites for nursing students Pilot innovative, evidence-based health promotion strategies to promote children’s wellness Provide children with nursing role models Support children living with chronic health conditions

Context Undergraduate students with schools as a primary learning site Clinical blending of Nursing Care of Children and Public Health Nursing Seamless for the students while meeting requirements for two distinct courses Graduate students invited to complete focused projects for Epidemiology Course

The Schools DISTRICT A 24 schools 2 high schools 4 junior high schools 17 elementary schools – 2 elementary schools 1 early learning school Newer schools, growing DISTRICT B 9 schools 1 high school 1 junior high school 6 elementary schools – 4 elementary schools 1 early learning school Older, landlocked Proximity of schools, willingness of principals and school nurses, poverty and diversity rates, including both districts, mix of all levels of schools, innovators

THE PARTNERS District superintendents Elementary, Junior High and High Schools Principals and school nurses in both districts District Wellness Committees McLean County Public Health Department Parents Children Nursing Students

Examples of Projects Oral health education Healthy eating Active living Mental health and relationship concerns Family outreach project Health fairs Classroom presentations Recess clubs Lunch learning Support groups Parent/Teacher conference education School nurse professional development Health clubs and future nurse/health professional clubs Evaluation of existing curricula for inclusion of nutrition content

Healthy Choices Fair: Nursing Students Learn to Collaborate and Work Effectively with Teens >900 teens participated Nursing students planned, coordinated, promoted, staffed and evaluated – in collaboration with school nurse, health department and teens Focus on teens making good choices in relationships and health behaviors

Family Outreach Project 1:1 connection, nursing student and child/family Focus on child living with chronic health condition Relationship with a child Negotiating home visit Planning and conducting home assessment Learning the real story of parenting a child with a chronic health condition Medication reconciliation Creating care plans for home and school Evaluation

Lessons Learned Politics are everywhere – Negotiation, conflict mediation, communication, communication, communication… Every discipline has its own language and norms – Supervision means something different if you are a principal Creativity and flexibility are essential for success – Using recess, lunch time, after school program Finding opportunities to partner everywhere – Connection with the librarian, working with teachers, community immunization campaign PDSA approach works in the community too – Evaluation each semester with learning incorporated for the next…not a finished product

Formal Evaluation IRB submitted, will conduct evaluation study in Spring 2013 Nursing student knowledge and skills Activity level re: recess clubs Oral health intervention and evaluation Child: Child support, living with diabetes(focus groups) Parent Survey Nursing student focus groups

Questions? Contact for more information: America’s Promise School Project