Partnering for Children’s Health

Shelly Malin, PhD, RNTeam Members: Susan Albee, BSN, RN; Susana Calderon, MSN, RN; Mary Cranston,

MS, RN, Lynn Kennell, MS, RN; Michelle Mauer, BSN, RN; Susanne Marcum, BSN, RN; Yvette Pigman, BSN, RN; Carla Pohl, CNM, DNP

Illinois State UniversityMennonite College of Nursing

Normal, IL

Illinois State UniversityMennonite College of Nursing

• First public university in Illinois

• 22,000 students • Nursing– 375 undergrads – 112 graduate students

• BSN, MSN, PhD, DNP (2013)

America’s Promise School Project• 2 year funded project, State Farm Insurance • Aligned with America’s Promise Alliance “5

Promises”

• Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others.

Purpose and GoalsDevelop sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships between

public schools, the College of Nursing and the community

• Partner with school districts to provide rich clinical learning sites for nursing students

• Pilot innovative, evidence-based health promotion strategies to promote children’s wellness

• Provide children with nursing role models• Support children living with chronic health

conditions

Context• Undergraduate students with schools as a

primary learning site • Clinical blending of Nursing Care of Children

and Public Health Nursing • Seamless for the students while meeting

requirements for two distinct courses• Graduate students invited to complete

focused projects for Epidemiology Course

The SchoolsDISTRICT A• 24 schools• 2 high schools• 4 junior high schools• 17 elementary schools

– 2 elementary schools• 1 early learning school• Newer schools, growing

DISTRICT B• 9 schools• 1 high school• 1 junior high school• 6 elementary schools

– 4 elementary schools• 1 early learning school• Older, landlocked

Proximity of schools, willingness of principals and school nurses, poverty and diversity rates, including both districts, mix of all levels of schools, innovators

THE PARTNERS• District superintendents• Elementary, Junior High and High Schools• Principals and school nurses in both districts• District Wellness Committees• McLean County Public Health Department• Parents• Children• Nursing Students

Examples of Projects • Oral health education • Healthy eating• Active living• Mental health and relationship concerns• Family outreach project• Health fairs• Classroom presentations• Recess clubs• Lunch learning• Support groups• Parent/Teacher conference education• School nurse professional development• Health clubs and future nurse/health professional clubs• Evaluation of existing curricula for inclusion of nutrition content

Healthy Choices Fair:Nursing Students Learn to Collaborate and

Work Effectively with Teens

• >900 teens participated• Nursing students planned, coordinated,

promoted, staffed and evaluated – in collaboration with school nurse, health

department and teens

• Focus on teens making good choices in relationships and health behaviors

Family Outreach Project1:1 connection, nursing student and child/family

• Focus on child living with chronic health condition• Relationship with a child• Negotiating home visit• Planning and conducting home assessment• Learning the real story of parenting a child with a

chronic health condition• Medication reconciliation• Creating care plans for home and school• Evaluation

Lessons Learned• Politics are everywhere

– Negotiation, conflict mediation, communication, communication, communication…

• Every discipline has its own language and norms– Supervision means something different if you are a principal

• Creativity and flexibility are essential for success– Using recess, lunch time, after school program

• Finding opportunities to partner everywhere– Connection with the librarian, working with teachers, community

immunization campaign

• PDSA approach works in the community too– Evaluation each semester with learning incorporated for the next…not

a finished product

Formal EvaluationIRB submitted, will conduct evaluation study in Spring 2013• Nursing student knowledge and skills• Activity level re: recess clubs• Oral health intervention and evaluation• Child: Child support, living with diabetes(focus

groups)• Parent Survey• Nursing student focus groups

Questions?

• Contact for more information: America’s Promise School Project

Shelly.malin@ilstu.edu