NASN is pleased to announce the second Champions for School Health funding opportunity for projects designed to increase access to and confidence in the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine and school-required vaccines among under-resourced populations. Awards are limited to grantees within the Kaiser Permanente market in CA, CO, GA, HI, MD, OR, VA, WA, and the District of Columbia. For this second funding cycle, grants ranging from $10,000-$30,000 will be given. All applications must be submitted through the Application Portal by 5 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2022.

When integrating complementary and integrative therapies into the school setting, the nurse steps beyond allopathic treatments into therapies that may not be accepted as traditional. It is the position of NASN that the registered professional school nurse advocates for evidence-based strategies that promote positive outcomes. It is important that when doing so, nurses familiarize themselves with the treatment requested and potential practice implications in light of federal and state regulations, district policy, and their state nurse practice act.

As part of August's Children's Eye Health and Safety Month, check out the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Expert Series video interview with NASN's Executive Director Donna Mazyck, MS, RN, NCSN, CAE, FNASN. In this episode, "Partnering with School Nurses for Children's Vision and Eye Health," she discusses the significant role that school nurses play in protecting children's eye health and promoting healthy vision.

During the 2020–21 academic year, COVID-19-related educational disruptions impacted school-based vision screenings. However, limited information regarding changes in vision screening and the number of students impacted has been reported. This JOSN article, Missed Vision Screenings for School-Age Children During The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey Based Study of NASN Representatives, aims to describe changes in school-based vision screening practices through a survey of NASN state representatives.

This section highlights news stories featuring NASN and school nurses. If you have a story about school nurses you'd like us to consider including, please send it to us.

It’s almost time for Back To School! Join NASN President Linda Mendonca and Tammy Alexander, VP of State Relations at the School-Based Health Alliance, for a webinar exploring the impact of the COVID pandemic on school-based health and the growing role of school nurses on August 12 at 1 p.m. EDT. This webinar is part of The National Nurse-Led Care Consortium Nurse-Led Forum for Vaccine Confidence. Register for the webinar.

CDC answers common questions about slowing the spread of COVID-19 in schools and Early Care and Education programs. Check out these FAQs:

This free NASN learning center course reviews the impact of pediatric-onset lupus on children and teens. Participants will identify the goal of transition planning, potential risks resulting from lack of transition support for teens and young adults, and apply the tenets of supporting frameworks to their role in contributing to a phased approach to transition planning from pediatric to adult care for continued effective and seamless self-management of the disease. Evidence-based current information, tools/resources, and strategies will support the confidence and competence of the school nurse role in transition planning for students with lupus with an emphasis on health equity for at-risk students. Learn more and complete the course.

E-cigarette use among youth remains a problem. The FDA’s toolkit for professionals working with youth will provide the information you need to help educate your community about e-cigarettes and their effects on adolescents. Order, download, or print your copy today and share it with your sphere of influence. Together, we can help more adults talk with teens about the dangers of e-cigarette use and help youth quit using vapes. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

On July 26, 2022, CDC developed considerations to assist school nurses and other healthcare providers develop a plan for managing children and adolescents with exposure to monkeypox, suspected monkeypox, or confirmed monkeypox. Learn more about clinical symptoms, treatment, and infection control.

Undiagnosed and untreated vision disorders can impair student development, lead to behavior problems in the classroom, interfere with early literacy and learning, and lead to permanent vision loss if not detected and treated early. The National Center for Children's Vision and Eye Health invites you to a webinar to provide information about evidence-based tools to help find children with these issues, on August 16, 2022, at 2:00 pm ET. This webinar is the first of a two-part series; the second (in the fall) will focus on helping families access eye care and treatment. Learn more and register.

These actions build upon earlier investments and announcements designed to expand access to mental health services for youth and further President Biden’s Unity Agenda. Learn more and view the fact sheet.

A little lead can cause BIG problems. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect learning, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. The most important step that parents and caregivers, healthcare providers, and public health professionals can take is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs. Learn more about lead poisoning prevention.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This year, NIAM serves as an important reminder to catch up on routine visits and vaccinations that may have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Use these CDC resources to assist you in communicating about vaccinations during August and throughout the year.

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