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4-09 - Health-related case management |
Provide case management for families of students who have complex health or safety needs, who have difficulty accessing required services, or whose needs preclude optimal participation or achievement at school.
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RATIONALE |
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Case management can enhance students' ability to learn by facilitating timely access to resources (e.g., health, mental health, social, financial) and enhancing communication and coordination among school staff and community-based health professionals, families, social services providers, and others providing resources to the family and student.
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COMMENTARY |
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Case management is a collaborative process by which students' special health-related
needs are assessed, planned, implemented, coordinated, monitored and evaluated.
It is also referred to as 'care coordination' and 'care management'. It is a collaborative
process whereby a case manager, the person primarily assisting the family, helps
families to explore options and services that they and their children require.
Referrals for case management may come from the student assistance team (Guideline
4-01). When a student has a community-based case manager, the school's role
would be to communicate with that case manager.
Case management should not be limited to students with disabilities or special health needs. Those who are homeless, hungry, overwhelmed by family problems, and/or otherwise distracted from learning, also require case management. School-based case managers can help families by advocating for family and student services, informing and educating families about such services, coordinating access to student and family services, taking on the role of liaison to community providers and organizations, and/or interpreting health-related information to school staff and family. School case management often differs from one community to another, as the location of the community (e.g., urban versus rural) and characteristics of the population (e.g., recent immigrants, families in military service careers) influence the nature of services students and families require.
Case management encompasses many of the key functions of the school nurse. Counselors, social workers and other health professionals in the school setting also often perform case management functions. The category of the school professional assigned to take on a case management role will often depend on the nature of a student's and family's needs and on school staffing.
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REFERENCES |
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National Association of School Nurses.
Position Statement: School Nursing Management of Students
With Chronic Health Conditions. Silver Spring, MD: National Association of School Nurses; 2006.
Available at: www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=351
American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on School Health. Role of the school nurse in providing school health services.
Pediatrics. 2008;121(5):1052–1056.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Strategies for Addressing Asthma Within a Coordinated School Health Program. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; 2006. Available at: www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/asthma/strategies.htm.
Bednarz PK. The Omaha System: a model for describing school nurse case management. J Sch Nurs. 1998; 14(3):24-30.
National Association of School Nurses. The School Nurse and Specialized Health Care Services. Scarborough, ME: National Association of School Nurses; 1996. Available at: http://www.nasn.org/positions/specialized.htm.
National Association of School Nurses. Position Statement: Caseload Assignments. Scarborough, ME: National Association of School Nurses; 1995. Available at: http://www.nasn.org/positions/caseload.htm.
Reel SJ, Morgan-Judge T, Peros DS, Abraham IL. School-based rural case management: a model to prevent and reduce risk. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2002; 14(7):291-6.
Scott P. A day in the life of a school health nurse. Tenn Nurse. 1998 ; 61(3):13-15.
Smith AJ Jr, Armijo EJ, Stowitschek JJ. Current applications of case management in schools to improve children's readiness to learn. J Case Manag. 1997; 6(3):105-13.
Students with Chronic Illnesses: Guidance for Families, Schools, and Students. [no authors listed] J Sch Health. 2003; 73(4):131-2. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/guidfam.pdf.
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RELATED GUIDELINES |
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1-02: Communication among school, home, and health providers
1-04: Parenting resources for families
7-02: Social services, mental health support
7-03: Recognition and referral of students under stress
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RELATED LINKS |
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Case Management Society of America
Site includes information on continuing education in fields of case management, nursing, social work, disease management, and rehabilitation.
Center for Mental Health in Schools.
Resources, technical assistance, and continuing education on topics related to mental health in schools, with a focus on barriers to learning and promotion of healthy development.
Center for School Mental Health Assistance
Supports schools and communities in the development of programs and provides leadership and technical assistance to advance effective interdisciplinary school-based mental health programs.
Maternal and Child Health Bureau; Health Resources and Services Administration
Includes programs, data and resources on health and safety issues for school children.
National Association of School Nurses
US Department of Education
US Department of Education - Emergency Planning
This resource from the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools provides school leaders with information to plan for many emergencies.
US Department of Education - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
US Department of Education - Office of Civil Rights
Provides information on Section 504