What to expect:

• Meet the many amazing people involved with school health centers and other health and mental health services in schools
• Learn from each other to strengthen programs and practice
• Find resources to sustain and expand this important work
• Contribute to state and local policy changes to support school health services
• Get inspired, rejuvenated, and have fun!

March 3: Educational Sessions at Sacramento Convention Center

Plenary Session

•Address from Kim Belshé, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency

•Presentation on student advocacy opportunities and success from youth delegates to the Policy Leadership Program on School Health

•School Health Center Champion Awards

Raise the Volume! Effective Ways to Engage Youth in the School Health Movement

•Youth Board, California School Health Centers Association

In this interactive workshop, the CSHC Youth Board will provide a framework and process for youth engagement in school health centers. The Youth Board will draw from personal experiences as peer educators, school health advocates, and school health services consumers.

Navigating HIPAA and FERPA:  Confidentiality and information sharing in school health and mental health services

•Rebecca Gudeman, Senior Attorney, National Center for Youth Law.

All school health providers must adhere to a set of confidentiality laws as stated in both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). While both FERPA and HIPAA were enacted to protect the privacy of students/young people accessing health services, these laws pose challenges to communication efforts across education and health systems. In this session, we identify how to develop better communication systems, encourage information sharing within HIPAA/FERPA guidelines, and identify areas for collaboration to strengthen partnerships for improved outcomes for youth.

Show Me the Money: How the Los Angeles Unified School District is Taking Advantage of “Joint Use” Agreements to Finance Health Services in Schools.

•Pam Wagner, RN, Coordinator, LA Trust for Children's Health.

•John DiCecco, Director, Community Partners and Medi-Cal Programs, LAUSD

The passage of various state and local school bond measures have provided a unique opportunity for school districts to build school clinics and provide mobile van infrastructure (pads, electricity, water and sewage) without dipping into the general fund educational dollars. Learn how LAUSD has earmarked millions of dollars for expansion and development of new school health services by utilizing the in-kind service delivery by community partners to match bond dollars for capital outlay.

Sizing up Sacramento : Advancing State Policies to Support School Health and Mental Health Services

•Kristin Curran, California School Health Centers Association

•Nancy Spradling, Executive Director, California School Nurses Organization

•Kelly Hardy, Associate Director Health, Children NOW

•Serena Kirk, Senior Policy Advocate, California Primary Care Association

CSHC and our advocacy partners will discuss our joint policy agenda, including strategies and next steps for expanding and funding school health and mental health services in California . In this session, we will explore what new legislation and other initiatives might mean for your school community and how you can get involved.

Community Schools: What's the Buzz About?

•Renee Newton, Director, UC Davis Center for Community Schools Partnership

•Anthony Amato, Superintendent, Stockton Unified School District

What's a community school, and does it include health services? This and other pressing questions will be addressed by a community schools expert and a superintendent who is developing community schools. The community schools framework, guiding principles, and helpful resources will be outlined. Speakers will explore how community providers and schools are building not only a set of services, but more importantly, a shared vision, distributive leadership, and a collaborative decision-making process to build and sustain those important community services.

We're All in This Together: Working with School Boards to Deliver Medical and Mental Health Services on Campus

•Martin Gonzalez, Assistant Executive Director, California School Boards Association

•Joan Edelstein, Senior Health Consultant, California School Boards Association

This session provides a process for health providers to successfully initiate policy change to create and or expand school health services. The speakers will outline how to work with school district governance teams and site administrators as well as provide examples on how to effectively deal with sensitive and controversial issues. 

This day marks the first time in recent history that a diverse group of providers and community members will come together to educate policymakers about their common goal – keeping kids in school and out of the emergency room by providing prevention, early intervention, first aid and chronic disease management in school.