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AdvocacyHow to Advocate for a State School Nurse Consultant The value of a state school nurse consultant (SSNC) position has been recognized by 40 states. Several steps can be taken to develop a plan to advocate for a SSNC position:
Assessment Examine your state nurse practice act, what does it say about supervision, quality assurance? Is the state receiving Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) funding as an infrastructure state? Is either the state education agency or state health agency receiving any other funding for school health services programs? An infrastructure state requires both the state education agency and the state health agency to work together to promote and support the CDC’s eight-component model for school health, of which one component is school health services. Find out how they are doing that. Check with each state agency to find out what health funding is received and how it can support school health. Copies or a summary of the grant requirements and monies received should be made available to you. Partners Plan
Barriers- Be prepared to answer question regarding barriers, e.g., "there is no budget for such a position." Use your previous research. Are there laws requiring the state to have such a position? Can funding that is already received, e.g. Safe and Drug Free Schools, health education, special education or nutrition funding be used (perhaps a little from each program)? “There is already someone (from another discipline) covering that position. Discuss state nurse practice laws, the need for quality assurance, and the difference between the knowledge base required for nursing vs. health educators or other administrators. Implementation Meet to develop a plan- Include your state school nurse organization, university partners, school administrators or local health officials. Develop a report with key information- number of school nurses, types of staffing models used, if any, in each jurisdiction. Prepare a chart outlining how each jurisdiction in the state, staff school nursing programs and who, if anyone, supervises the school health program. Strategies
Be prepared- Have a copy of a state school nurse consultant job description (a sample can be found on the NASSNC website.) Have answers for barriers. OTHER TIPS
Be united- It is particularly disconcerting if there is more than one organization advocating separately for the same cause. Come together and make a united approach.
Presentation- When presenting, bring a group, with one spokesperson. The group can all wear buttons, or nametags with a slogan to identify them. The spokesperson can ask the group to rise to be recognized and show visually the support. Respect time constraints for speakers. Don't give up- persevere. Follow up with a written letter to groups you’ve presented, offering to answer additional questions and then ask for their support writing. NASSNC would be pleased to provide you with the name of a SSNC in a nearby state that could provide support and advice. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments. Click here to download a powerpoint presentation about the role of NASSNC. Click here to download a brochure in pdf format that describes NASSNC. |
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