The Virtual Health Office

Hope everyone had a wonderful, healthy Summer. This semester may look different, but we hope you are excited for this new learning experience. School staff are doing their part to stay safe and healthy while on campuses, and we hope you are doing the same to ensure we will be back face to face soon! We will continue to reach out monthly with health updates, information, and offer help from the virtual health office! This month's newsletter has COVID-19 resources, immunization help, and more. If you have any questions, or health concerns contact the school nurse at your site (contact information at the bottom of this newsletter). Nurses and health assistants are still on campuses daily, if you go to doctor's appointments, obtain new orders, please contact us in order to prepare for return to face to face instruction! Visit CUSD's website to upload forms needed for medication administration at school, dietary restrictions, and more: http://www.chicousd.org/Departments/Educational-Services/Ed-Services-Forms/Health-Services-Forms/index.html

COVID-19 news and information can be overwhelming! Here are a few valuable resources to help you during these uncertain times:

• ​​​​​​If you don’t have health care coverage, or you have Medi-Cal but don’t have a regular doctor, California’s new nurse advice line can help.​ The advice line can connect you with a nurse, day or night, to talk about COVID-19 symptoms and help connect you with local resources in your area. ​​Call the Medi-Nurse Line: (877) 409-9052​​.
• Butte County COVID-19 testing sites: https://www.buttecounty.net/Portals/21/COVID-19/COVIDTestingLocations.pdf?ver=2020-06-26-092239-917
• Educational resources regarding signs and symptoms of COVID, and MIS-C (Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs seen in children exposed to COVID-19.): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children/mis-c.html

For other COVID-19 questions and resources please visit Butte County Public Health's website: http://www.buttecounty.net/ph/COVID19.

We are thankful families have been doing their part by staying at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. As communities open up, it’s important your child goes in for their well-child visit. These well-child visits are essential for many reasons, including:

• Tracking growth and development including milestones, social behaviors, and learning
• Discussing any concerns about your child’s health
• Getting scheduled vaccinations to prevent illnesses like measles and whooping cough (pertussis) and 12 other serious diseases

Many medical offices are taking extra steps to make sure that well visits can happen safely during the COVID-19 outbreak, including:

• Scheduling sick visits and well-child visits during different times of the day.
• Asking patients to remain outside until it’s time for their appointment to reduce the number of people in waiting rooms.
• Offering sick visits and well-child visits in different locations

For a list of providers currently accepting new patients visit Butte County's website http://www.buttecounty.net/ph/Programs/MaternalChildHealth/ChildHealthDisabilityPrevention, and scroll down to the resources tab, or contact your school nurse.

It is Summer in Chico and you know what that means.... heat! As the temperatures creep past 100 degrees make sure you know the signs and symptoms of heat related illness and the actions to take.

The CDC found a troubling drop in routine childhood vaccinations in May 2020 as a result of families staying at home. While we appreciate families staying home, unfortunately childhood vaccines suffered. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend every child continues to receive routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Even if your child is receiving instruction at home at this time, when schools resume for in person instruction your child will need to be up to date on immunizations to return to school - be prepared! For more information go to https://www.shotsforschool.org/ and https://eziz.org/ for updates and resources

If your student is not current on immunizations you will be receiving a letter or phone call from the health office. Most clinician's offices and Public Health are still administering immunizations, but many pharmacies have restricted or limited their hours. For an updated list of providers and their current immunization schedule please contact your school nurse.

Vision screenings may have to wait until we return to face to face learning, but that does not mean you should delay your student's vision concerns. If you need assistance with finding a local eye doctor, or financial resources please contact your school nurse.

• For more fun vision information visit the National Eye Institutes Kids Webpage: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/nei-for-kids
• List of local optometry providers accepting medical: https://www.buttecounty.net/Portals/21/Nursing/Maternal_ChildHealth/CHDP/SpeechVisionHearing.pdf

The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that one in five children suffer from childhood obesity. We know with the transition to virtual learning it is difficult to take a time away from the computer screen.

Here are some local ideas to stay active and safe, enjoy our beautiful summer weather, and boost our immune systems with some Vitamin D!

• Explore the trails and take a dip in Bidwell Park: https://friendsofbidwellpark.org/park-info/
• September is National Fruits and Vegetables month! Support your local farmers and choose from a robust selection of fresh fruits and veggies at our local farmers market: https://chicofarmersmarket.com/ Then try some fun and healthy recipes at home!
• Chico is known as the bike city, for multiple rides suggestions, bike safety tips, and access to trail maps: https://www.chicovelo.org/, Just remember to wear your helmet, most bike shops are open or do drive by pick ups!
• Try more fun, and healthy resources: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/growing-healthy/Pages/default.aspx

For more resources visit: https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Pages/Childhood-Obesity-Awareness-Month.aspx

Our Nutrition Services Department will continue offering FREE curbside meals!

Meals are served on Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Children will receive two meals on Friday.

Meals are available Monday - Friday from 11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Serving locations are:

· Bidwell Junior High

· Chico Junior High

· Citrus Elementary

· Chapman Elementary

· Emma Wilson Elementary

· Little Chico Creek Elementary

· Shasta Elementary School

· Sierra View Elementary

* Please note: Children must be present to receive a meal. Free meals are available to any child in the community age 18 years or younger (regardless of school).

Any changes or schedule updates will be posted on the Chico Unified website.

Melanie Evans, mgevans@chicousd.org: Marsh Junior High , Parkview Elementary, Bidwell Junior High

Julie Graber, jgraber@chicousd.org: Emma Wilson Elementary, Little Chico Creek Elementary, Hooker Oak Elementary, Neal Dow Elementary

Michelle Neves Dean, mnevesdean@chicousd.org: Chico Senior High, McManus Elementary, Wildflower Elementary

Julie Scalet, jscalet@chicousd.org: Pleasant Valley High, Fairview, Sierra View Elementary

Julie Parker, jlparker@chicousd.org: Loma Vista, Marigold Elementary, Oakdale Elementary and Oakbridge

Cindy Steffen, csteffen@chicousd.org: Citrus Elementary, Rosedale Elementary, Chapman Elementary

Sherry Atkin, satkin@chicousd.org: Shasta Elementary, Chico Junior High, Forest Ranch