TITLE
Title
GUILFORD COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH - INTERLOCAL MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Courtney McFadden
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BACKGROUND
Background
The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) recognizes that all students should have access to school health services every school day to support their health, safety, and ability to learn. North Carolina Administrative Code, 16 NCAC 06D .0402, requires each Local Education Agency to make a registered nurse available to provide assessment, care planning, and ongoing evaluation for students with special health care needs in the school setting.
In addition, the North Carolina Division of Public Health Child Health Agreement Addenda requires local health departments to maintain a written agreement with the school district(s) within their service area, even when the health department's activities are limited to communicable disease control and environmental health services.
For more than 26 years, Guilford County Health and Human Services Agency - Department of Public Health (HHS-DPH) and Guilford County Schools (GCS) have partnered through an Interlocal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to provide coordinated school health services. The agreement establishes clear roles and responsibilities between the health department and school system and allows services to be tailored to the health and educational needs of students in Guilford County.
Through this partnership, HHS-DPH provides comprehensive school health services to support students in maintaining their health and remaining ready to learn. The MOA is reviewed and, when necessary, revised annually by representatives of HHS-DPH and GCS to ensure that the partnership continues to reflect current needs, resources, and requirements.
Current School Health Staffing
HHS-DPH employs:
• 64 School Nurses
• 2 School Health Aides
• 1 Dental Hygienist
• 7 School Nurse Supervisors
• 1 Nursing Services Manager
• 2 Administrative Assistants
Together, these staff provide coordinated health services in 120 Guilford County Schools. Currently there is one nurse assigned to every 2 schools. Services include support for students with special health care needs, health assessments and care coordination, and other school-based health services. HHS-DPH also provides communicable disease and environmental health consultation to charter schools throughout Guilford County on an as-needed basis. The FY2027 adopted budget includes $9,859,140 for staffing and operations of the school health program. HHS-DPH receives $654,956 in revenue from the North Carolina Division of Public Health.
Guilford County Schools separately employs 4 School Nurses who provide health services in 4 public separate schools. These nurses are supported by the GCS Director of Health Services.
This longstanding partnership between HHS-DPH and GCS is an important component of Guilford County's commitment to ensuring that students have access to the health support they need to be healthy, safe, and ready to learn.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY DOLLARS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve the Interlocal agreement, in substantial form, between Guilford County Health and Human Service Agency - Department of Public Health and Guilford County Board of Education for school nurse services in Guilford County Schools effective July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2031.
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