TITLE
title
GUILFORD COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, MOSES CONE AND PUBLIC HEALTH- TELEHEALTH SERVICES
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SPONSOR
sponsor
Courtney McFadden
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BACKGROUND
background
The School Health Program is an established component of the health services provided within the Guilford County Public School System and plays an important role in promoting the health, safety, and well-being of students. For more than 26 years, school health services have been provided through a partnership between Guilford County Health and Human Services Agency - Department of Public Health (HHS- DPH) and Guilford County Schools (GCS), with school nurses providing services directly to students in GCS schools.
Through a MOU started in 2024, Cone Health began providing telehealth services in select Guilford County schools as an additional resource to support student access to health care. Under the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), HHS-DPH will continue to administer the School Health Program, while Cone Health will administer the Telehealth Program. These will remain separate and independent programs.
The proposed interlocal Telehealth MOU establishes a framework for collaboration among Guilford County Schools, HHS-DPH, and Cone Health. The purpose of the MOU is to coordinate services and clarify the roles and responsibilities of school staff, Cone Health telepresenters, and HHS-DPH school nurses when services overlap or require coordination.
The MOU establishes shared goals and guiding principles designed to support an efficient and coordinated approach to school-based health services. It also provides a clear framework for communication and collaboration among the three organizations, while maintaining the distinct responsibilities of each program. The agreement outlines practices and protocols that allow the School Health and Telehealth Programs to coordinate services and support students when appropriate.
An additional component of the MOU addresses the appropriate sharing of health information between the programs when necessary to support the health and well-being of students. Information sharing will occur in accordance with applicable privacy requirements and established policies and procedures.
Cone Health will provide telehealth services in 34 Guilford County Schools during the 2026-2027 school year:
• Northwood Elementary
• Fairview Elementary
• Parkview Elementary
• Union Hill Elementary
• Kirkman Park Elementary
• Oak Hill Elementary
• Montlieu Elementary
• Oak View Elementary
• Shadybrook Elementary
• Pilot Elementary
• Jamestown Elementary
• Bessemer Elementary
• Cone Elementary
• Brightwood Elementary
• Rankin Elementary
• McNair Elementary
• Bluford Elementary
• Falkener Elementary
• Reedy Fork Elementary
• Sumner Elementary
• Simkins Elementary
• Frazier Elementary
• Gillespie Elementary
• Hunter Elementary
• Alderman Elementary
• Sedgefield Elementary
• Peck Elementary
• Irving Park Elementary
• Jefferson Elementary
• Guilford Elementary
• Triangle Lake Elementary
• Jones Elementary
• Foust Elementary
• Joyner Elementary
It is important to distinguish this proposed Telehealth MOU from the existing School Health Memorandum of Agreement between HHS-DPH and GCS. The School Health MOA establishes the longstanding partnership between HHS - DPH and GCS and supports the requirements of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Child Health Agreement Addendum.
The proposed Telehealth MOU is a separate agreement that establishes the collaborative relationship among GCS, HHS-DPH, and Cone Health specifically for telehealth services. Approval of this MOU does not replace or modify the existing School Health MOA between HHS-DPH and GCS.
Approval of the proposed MOU will allow HHS-DPH, GCS, and Cone Health to continue working collaboratively to expand access to health services for students while maintaining clear program responsibilities and preserving the existing School Health partnership.
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BUDGET IMPACT
budget impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
requested action
Approve Interlocal Memorandum of Understanding, in substantial form, between Guilford County Board of Education, Guilford County Health And Human Services Agency - Department of Public Health and Cone Health to be effective July 1, 2026.
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