School Nurses

  • Purpose
    ESC Region 11 strives to provide districts and charters with quality professional development, technical assistance, and resources related to the Coordinated School Health Model, including vision, hearing, and spinal screening.

  • VHSS Vision, Hearing and Spinal Reporting Update (5/19/2020):

    Announcements

    Vision, Hearing and Spinal Screening and Reporting Rules are Waived for 2019-2020 School Year. Optional reporting window for screenings already conducted extended to July 31.  

    • Due to COVID-19 and school closures, in accordance with section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, the Office of the Governor grants the Department of State Health Services’ request to suspend HSC section 37.001(b), 25 TAC 37.144(c)(1), and 25 TAC 37.145(b)(5) for spinal screening and reporting, and HSC sections 36.004(a), 36.006(d), and 25 TAC 37.23(a), 25 TAC 37.24(a), and 25 TAC 37.26(b)(6) for hearing and vision screening and reporting. This suspension is in effect for the 2019-2020 school year.
    • Schools may report screening results of previously performed screenings by July 31st for the 2019-2020 school year if they elect to do so. Results can be submitted to DSHS online at the Child Health Reporting System (CHRS).  If you have any questions, please email VHSSprogram@dshs.texas.gov.

     
Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Potentially Associated with COVID-19

  • A Message from DSHS Regarding Student Immunizations and Enrollment - April 14

    As COVID-19 continues to affect communities across Texas, children may be provisionally enrolled in school without meeting immunization requirements.  Under the Texas Administrative Code Rule §97.66, a provisional enrollment may be granted for all children enrolled in schools and child-care facilities who are unable to meet Immunization requirements.  A child-care provider, school nurse, or school administrator shall review the immunization status of a provisionally enrolled child or student every 30 days to ensure continued compliance in completing the required doses of vaccination. If, at the end of the 30-day period, a child or student has not received a subsequent dose of vaccine, the child or student is not in compliance and the facility shall exclude the child or student from attendance until the required dose is administered.

     

    Best,

    Julie Ketelsen MPH, CHES

    School Compliance Coordinator

    Assessment, Compliance, and Evaluation Group

    Immunization Unit

    Department of State Health Services

     

    512-776-6470 (desk)

    512-776-7544 (fax)

    www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize
    Comments (-1)

  • Spinal Screening Reporting Period Begins January 15
    01/13/2020
    The reporting period for spinal screening (VHSS) begins on January 15, 2020. Results are required to be submitted to the Department of State Health Services online at the Child Health Reporting System (CHRS) by June 30 of each year. View the vision, hearing and spinal screening annual reports flyer.

    The last day to submit your report for this school year is June 30, 2020. After June 30, the reporting system shuts down and late reporting cannot be submitted.

  • In accordance with the 83rd Legislature, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in coordination with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and regional education service centers (ESCs), shall provide and annually update a list of recommended best practice-based programs for implementation in public elementary, junior high, middle, and high schools within the general education setting. DSHS, TEA, and each ESC shall make the list easily accessible on their website. The list must include programs in the following areas:

    • Early mental health intervention       
    • Mental health promotion and positive youth development        
    • Substance abuse prevention;
    • Substance abuse intervention; and
    • Suicide prevention 

  • New Provisional Enrollment Vaccine Dosing Schedule

    A provisional enrollment dosing schedule was created to assist schools in correctly enrolling students provisionally.  The Provisional Enrollment Vaccine Dosing Schedule provides information on the required vaccine, dose, and intervals between subsequent doses for students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade and can be accessed online. 

     

    A provisional enrollment dosing schedule is planned for Pre-K and Childcare, but is not available at this time.

     

    For more information, contact:

    Julie Ketelsen MPH, CHES

    School Compliance Coordinator

    Assessment, Compliance, and Evaluation Group

    Immunization Unit

    Department of State Health Services

    Phone: 512-776-6470

    Fax:    512-776-7544

    www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize

    https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/school/publications.aspx
    Comments (-1)