TITLE
title
HHS-PUBLIC HEALTH INTERLOCAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, GC-HHS-PUBLIC HEALTH AND CONE HEALTH FOR TELEHEALTH
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SPONSOR
sponsor
Anita Ramachandran
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BACKGROUND
background
The School Health Program is an existing component of the Guilford County Public School System and plays a vital role in promoting a healthy and safe school environment. It has historically been provided jointly by Guilford County Health & Human Services - Public Health and Guilford County Schools via nurses located in schools. Cone Health began providing services in additional schools via telehealth beginning in 2024.
The telehealth MOU was initiated to expand and collaborate on overlap of services between GCS staff, telepresenters from Cone Health, and School Nurses in the schools. The MOU identifies specific communication pathways and service coordination between all three (3) agencies and it was determined this needed to go before the Board of Education, to identify how each agency would operate independently, as well as collaboratively. This is a separate MOU from the School Health MOU between GCDPH and GCS, as that identifies that partnership as part of the Agreement Addendum with NCDHHS.
The terms of the MOU define the primary roles and responsibilities of each party in the provision of integrated school health services:
• Cone Health will administer the Telehealth Program.
• Public Health will administer the School Health Program.
While these programs remain independent under the terms of the MOU, the agreement also outlines collaborative practices and protocols that enable both programs to coordinate efforts and support one another in delivering comprehensive health services to students. Provisions are also included for the sharing of health information between the programs, when necessary, to support student well-being, consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
Cone Health is in the midst of a 3-year contract utilizing $2.2 million in APRA funding that ends June 2026. All funding will be expended by the end of the calendar year 2025. Cone Health is securing additional funding through Generation Ed to sustain fiscal responsibility. The goal was to operate telehealth in twenty (20) sites by June 2026, that goal was exceeded to providing telehealth services in 26 schools by spring 2025:
Bessemer Elementary
Washington Montessori Elementary
Union Hill Elementary
Cone Elementary
Bluford Elementary
Rankin Elementary
Gillespie Park Elementary
Kirkman Park Elementary
Parkview Village Elementary
Vandalia Elementary
Falkener Elementary
Peck Elementary
Oak Hill Elementary
Fairview Elementary
Sedgefield Elementary
Frazier Elementary
Brightwood Elementary
Northwood Elementary
Hunter Elementary
Alderman Elementary
Montileu Academy
Sumner Elementary
Oak View Elementary
Joyner Elementary
McNair Elementary
Simkins Elementary
There are an additional ten (10) proposed sites to open in Fall 2025:
Foust Elementary
Guilford Elementary
Jamestown Elementary
Triangle Lake Elementary
Irving Park Elementary
Pilot Elementary
Reedy Fork Elementary
Jefferson Elementary
Jones Elementary
This contract renewal will take effect on July 1, 2025, for a term of one (1) year, with the option for annual renewal upon mutual agreement by all parties.
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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, by and through its Department of Health and Human Services - Division of Public Health and Cone Health focused on coordinated health services in the Guilford County Schools, effective July 1, 2025.
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