On June 30, school nurses and administrators came together at the Abrams Public Health Center for the third consecutive year to get the latest information on a wide variety of public health issues facing Pima County’s students.
Approximately 70 people representing five school districts, six private schools and two charter schools heard from public health professionals about such things as bed bugs, rashes, and allergies.
Attendees also received information about a program that connects children to care. Other topics discussed included immunization exemptions and the relationship to outbreaks in schools, understanding the complexities facing refugee children, concussions in school age children, and steps schools can take for emergency preparedness.
Conference attendees were able to discuss concerns, ask questions and participate in hands on demonstrations.
Each year the conference has increased in attendance as well as expanded the number of community partner experts who provided engaging and interactive presentations.
Dr. Francisco García, director and chief medical officer of the Pima County Health Department, was pleased with the turn-out.
“The most important thing we can do for the health of Pima County is to lift children out of poverty and help them through the educational pipeline. The Health Department is a critical partner in this task,” Dr. García said. “Today’s training event deepens our relationships with the Pima County Superintendent for public instruction and other school sector partners, and is part of our ongoing community’s effort to enrich the content and quality of school health services.”