Blenheim High School Staff
Hi my name is Linda English from the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit and I am your school liaison Public Health Nurse for the 2008-2009 year. I am looking forward to a great year working with the school staff and students. This letter will briefly explain Public Health services available to your school.
I am available to students at your school to provide services in all aspects of good health. I will be available at your school one day every other week. You can also leave a message on my confidential voice mail @ 519-355-1071 Ext.5487 , or e-mail lindae@chatham-kent.ca and I will get back to you ASAP.
The services available arise from the “Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines” designed by the Ontario Ministry of Health. These guidelines allow public health to provide individual/group health teaching, counselling and referral of students regarding issues that affect their health such as:
· Healthy eating and physical activity.
· Dealing with stress, depression, anger and suicidal tendencies.
· Smoking cessation and referrals for substance use/abuse, prevention and treatment.
· Counselling on; relationships, communication, date rape, sexuality, abstinence, birth control, sexually transmitted infections, low cost birth control, Emergency Contraception Pills (ECP), condoms, free pregnancy testing and options counselling.
· Prenatal referrals to community resources, Building Healthy Babies in Chatham-Kent, HBHC, Young Moms Prenatal, etc.
· Free and confidential services are provided for males and females. I can also make referrals for testing and treatment if necessary to Family Physicians or the Health Unit Clinics.
· Vaccination clinics and follow-up of those students who may be suspended for not being up to date with their immunizations and therefore putting themselves at risk.
· Prepare and display bulletin board topics on health related issues.
I am available to grade 9 teachers for classroom teaching of sexual/reproductive health information (eg. STI’s, HIV and Birth Control). I would appreciate at least 2 weeks notice for scheduling purposes. Also, I will be available for consultation and can provide resources on these and other health related topics for any teacher requesting them.
I would be glad to attend a staff meeting and discuss Health Unit Services.
I look forward to meeting and working with the staff and students at BDHS. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Linda English R.N.,
B.Sc.N.
Public Health Nurse
Chatham-Kent Public
Health Unit
(519) 355-1071 Ext.
5487 / Fax (519) 355-0848
lindae@chatham-kent.ca
Addendum:
The Consent to Treatment Act (1995) allows any age person to seek medical care with their family physician, in a hospital emergency department, and our clinic services as long as they have a valid health card, they are able to understand their care and can understand the consequences of not having that care. This act also entitles any person to confidentiality in regards to their health care without their parent’s knowledge or consent. (There are 3 exceptions including: if they are going to hurt themselves, if they are going to hurt someone else and if there are any signs of abuse). I try to encourage the student to talk to their family about the health issues they bring to me and we discuss ways they can use to approach the subject. However, I am not allowed to directly discuss anything about any student with a family member or teacher without the students’ consent. If a parent calls me, I will explain the polices we work under, how students can access our services and encourage communication with their child.