Starting in July, Waltham schools will receive a $137,000 grant to help students lead a healthier life.
The city's 10 public and seven private schools will receive a portion of money from the Essential School Health Services Infrastructure grant, said Marie DeSisto, director of nurses for Waltham public schools.
Provided by the state Department of Public Health, the money will finance health-related programs, cover the costs of medical supplies and brochures, as well as pay for new computers for some nurses. The school nurses will be required to track the money spent and report to the DPH.
More than ever, school nurses play a crucial role in children's health, said Anne Sheetz, the DPH director of school health services.
"School nurses right now are in critical need because we have an increased number of students with chronic illnesses in schools," Sheetz said. "The other issue that has occurred in health delivery systems is much of the (health) management now occurs in the schools. You need very well-trained and educated professionals to deal with that."
DeSisto said she learned last week that Waltham was awarded the five-year grant, which has three two-year renewal options.
"It was a competitive bid," DeSisto said. "One-hundred and twenty-one school districts applied ... and we were one of 83 school (districts) that were funded."
DeSisto said the application process involved a strict criteria.
"It wasn't an easy application. You had to have certain things in place like having linkages with community health organizations and adequate nurses," she said. "If you didn't have that support, just to give us money wouldn't work."
The city's private schools will receive $42,000 toward health programs and supplies.
The remaining balance will be divided between funding a nurse's annual salary in the Waltham Public School District and providing health programs and supplies in the city's public schools.
DeSisto said the city has been the recipient of the Essential School Health Services grant, a similar source of funding since 2000.
"It ends June 30. So we had to reapply for this new grant," DeSisto said. "The old grant paid for the nurse's salary."
DeSisto said Waltham Public Schools will spend a portion of the grant on "Quit," a smoking cessation program at Waltham High School.
Since 2001, DeSisto said Waltham High School nurses have used different techniques to help students quit smoking. In 2005 the district began using the "Quit" program, which they've found to be successful, DeSisto said.
"Smoking here is way down. When you come by Waltham High School, you don't see kids smoking outside anymore ... there's no smoky bathrooms," she said.
The grant will help fund a series of dental screenings.
Starting with elementary school students, school nurses will partner with representatives from the Joseph Smith Community Health Center at 564 Main St.
"The kids can have their teeth screened at schools," DeSisto said. "If they need to get further treatment, they will be given a referral to their own dentist or another dentist and follow-up."
The grant will also fund a program on head injury awareness. DeSisto said Nurses will develop a comprehensive program reviewing policies and creating a follow-up plan for any students who suffer head injuries "students that come in having concussions from a car accident or skateboard fall," DeSisto said.
"We're just going to gather some information on kids with head injuries and look at the possible educational implications of that."
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com
