Managing Chronic Health Conditions in Schools
About 25% of children in the United States aged 2 to 8 years have a chronic health condition such as asthma, obesity, other physical conditions, and behavior/learning problems.1 The healthcare needs of children with chronic illness can be complex and continuous and includes both daily management and addressing potential emergencies.
Health services in schools are a key component of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. Ensuring that students have the health services they need in school to manage their chronic condition is important in helping them stay healthy and ready to learn—therefore, CDC works to improve the delivery of health services in the school environment for students of all ages.
Key Resources
- Research Brief: Addressing the Needs of Students with Chronic Health Conditions: Strategies for Schools [PDF – 269KB]
- Research Brief: Chronic Health Conditions and Academic Achievement [PDF – 288KB]
- Fact Sheet: Health Insurance for Children: How Schools Can Help [PDF – 1MB]
- Fact Sheet: Managing Chronic Health Conditions in Schools: The Role of the School Nurse [PDF – 650KB]
- Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Overview [PDF – 224 KB]
- NASN Position Statement: The Complimentary Roles of the School Nurse and School Based Health Centers. 2015
- AAP Policy Statement: Patient- and Family-Centered Care Coordination: A Framework for Integrating Care for Children and Youth Across Multiple Systems [PDF – 1.2MB]
- American Academy of Pediatrics, National Center for Medical Home Implementation: Care Coordination Resources (icludes curriculum for school nurses), 2016
- Health services Assessment Tool for Schools (HATS)
- School Health Profiles
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)
References
- Van Cleave J, Gortmaker SL, Perrin JM. Dynamics of obesity and chronic health conditions among children and youth. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 2010;303(7):623-630.
- Page last reviewed: May 9, 2017
- Page last updated: May 9, 2017
- Content source: