Purpose of the Bill

The bill seeks to improve health and educational outcomes for children and adolescents in schools by mandating the Minnesota Department of Health to employ a dedicated public health school health services consultant.

Main Provisions

• Creation of a Position: The Department of Health must hire a public health school health services consultant.
• Consultant Requirements:
  • Must be a registered nurse and public health nurse in Minnesota.
  • Licensed as a school nurse in Minnesota.
  • Must have at least three years of experience as a licensed school nurse.
  • Should possess expertise in public health nursing, especially in relation to school health.
  • Needs to have comprehensive knowledge of school health issues and the connection between health and educational outcomes.

Duties of the Consultant

• Develop, implement, and evaluate policies and programs for school health.
• Support schools in advancing school health practices and promote health leadership.
• Provide guidance and technical support to schools on best health practices.
• Develop and share resources to enhance the capacity of school health professionals.
• Distribute guidance for implementing health promotion activities in schools.
• Expand access to online and asynchronous continuing education for school health professionals.
• Collect data regarding school health services to assess their effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the Department of Education and other agencies to coordinate health services.
• Provide necessary services and support to meet the health needs of youth in schools.

Significant Changes

This bill introduces a new statutory requirement in Minnesota Statutes chapter 144, enforcing the employment of a specialized consultant focused on health services within educational settings. It aligns health objectives with educational outcomes and promotes comprehensive training and support for school health professionals.

Relevant Terms

public health school health services, registered nurse, public health nurse, school nurse, educational settings, health promotion, school health best practices, school health workforce data, school-based health centers.