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School Health Services Program

The Fairfax County Health Department partners with Fairfax County Public Schools and Falls Church City Public Schools to provide school public health nurses and school health aides. The Health Department also provides information and consultation to private schools across Fairfax County.

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About the School Health Program
Health topics
Resources

About the School Health Program

The School Health Services Program is an extension of the Fairfax County Health Department. School Health Services staff and other Health Department employees work together to:

Monitor communicable diseases, such as the flu and norovirus, and COVID-19.
Ensure access to health services, such as immunizations.
Support community initiatives that go beyond school walls to promote a healthy community for all.

School Health Aides (SHAs) and Public Health Nurses (PHNs) are Fairfax County Health Department employees who work with Fairfax County Public Schools staff. Together, they promote a safe and healthy educational environment by providing health support services in the school setting.

Everyone has a role to play in student health:

Teacher and student

Set policy and guidelines for school health to follow federal, state and local mandates.
Promote healthy nutrition and fitness through the school curriculum.
Support health needs of the students by participating in training and education provided by the PHN.
Participate in education and training provided by PHNs.
Promote health and wellness in the school community.

Fairfax County Public Schools

Falls Church City Public Schools

Parent holding hands with child

Are trained paraprofessionals assigned to work in the Fairfax County Public Schools school health rooms during school hours.
Provide care of illness or injury that occur during school hours based on standard protocols and guidelines.
Help to ensure students take medications appropriately.
Coordinate mandated vision and hearing health screenings for students.
Respond to health emergencies.
Monitor student absence data.

Nurse holding hand of student

Assess students by reviewing the information provided by parents.
Coordinates care and if indicated, develops individual care plans to support the student with a health condition during the educational day.
Train teachers, administrators and other school staff to support individual student health needs.
Develop and implement health promotion and disease prevention programs to educate the school community about public health concerns such as nutrition, fitness, chronic disease and emotional well-being.
Supervise, train and work closely with School Health Aides in multiple schools.
Investigate reports of communicable disease and increased absences in schools.

Required School Immunizations

Immunizations required for entry into Fairfax County Public Schools are available free from the Health Department.

School Entrance Health Form

Parents and guardians enrolling their child in public schools can download the Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Health Form MCH 213G and MCH 213G instructions.

School Health Forms

School Health Nurses are Here for You!

Students can talk to their school health nurse about a wide range of health topics, including:

Nutrition, exercise, and other healthy habits
Feelings of sadness, anxiety, and other mental health concerns
Hearing and vision screenings
Free or low-cost healthcare
Oral/dental care
Reproductive health
Contagious diseases

Remember, school health nurses are a trusted resource for students to discuss health-related concerns without judgement.

Visit your school health room or send an email to schedule an appointment with the nurse.

Health Department

Health Department Alert:

Department Resources

Related Resources

School Health Services Program

About the School Health Program

Everyone has a role to play in student health:

Required School Immunizations

School Entrance Health Form

School Health Nurses are Here for You!

Health Topics

Resources

School Health Promotion Toolkit

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax

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