health messaging for children to prevent the spread

• 20 SECONDS OR MORE: A video by HipHop Public Health to encourage washing hands in English. 
• 20 SEGUNDOS O MÁS: A video by HipHop Public Health to encourage washing hands in Spanish. 

• COVID-19 information for kids, by kids: A video by Children's Hospital New Orleans.

Frequently Asked Questions from School Systems

Please check the Louisiana Department of Health FAQs and LDOE's Strong Start FAQ’s frequently. Please note that the school related questions on the Louisiana Department of Health FAQs is located half way down the FAQs page. Please are two of hte top questions that have been submitted by school sytems. 

How can my school safely assess students and staff for COVID-19?

According to the LDOE Strong Start Guidance, whenever possible, schools should ensure a school nurse or health care professional is available to support screening and isolation procedures. Consistent with the CDC's recommendation, individuals who have a fever of 100.4°F or above or exhibit other signs of illness must not be admitted to the facility. Screening steps:

• Ask the student or parent/guardian to confirm the student has not taken fever-reducing medication in the last 24 hours and does not have shortness of breath, sore throat or a cough.
• Make a visual inspection of the child for signs of illness, particularly shortness of breath or cough.
• If a student registers a temperature of 100.4 or higher, their temperature should be taken a second time 5 to 10 minutes later

What are the procedures for isolating sick individuals?

According to the LDOE Strong Start Guidance, it is important to establish a space to isolate students who become sick, and to be prepared with a cleaning and disinfecting process. Schools should create an area that can be used to isolate a sick student and ensure proper adult supervision of an isolated child as needed and based on age. If a sick child has been isolated in the facility, clean and disinfect surfaces in the isolation room or area after the sick child has gone home. School systems can use an assurance statement to ensure parents are aware of their obligation to immediately pick up sick students from campus. 

In the event that a student, staff member or visitor to the school is or is presumed to be positive for COVID-19, contact regional or local public health officials to determine any additional steps related to communication, quarantining practices, enhanced cleaning or disinfection processes, or school facility closure. State of Louisiana contact tracers will conduct contact tracing activities, including school-based contacts. The LDOE Guidance for Staff and Student Monitoring One Pager provides information on symptom monitoring. For more information on symptom monitoring, you can view LDOE’s list of FAQs or read page 10 and page 15 of the LDOE Strong Start Guidance.

RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL NURSES

• National Association of School Nurses COVID-19 Resources 
• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Allergy & Asthma Network COVID-19 Information Center 
• CSHS Family Resource Center in the Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health
• Autism Speaks:  Resources for families and education/health professionals
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Spina Bifida Association: What People with Spina Bifida Need to Know
• Epilepsy Foundation
• Article from the American Academy of Pediatrics Complex Care Special Interest Group
• Child Neurology Foundation

• Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health COVID 19 Behavioral Health Information: This page include information for parents and the general public.
• LDOE Guide for Implementing Student and Staff Well-Being: This a 2-page document with sample scripts, Schedule for Well-Being Support, Parent Consent Forms for Universal Screen and much more! 
• LDOE Guide to Supporting the Well-Being of Student and Staff: This 3-page document provides concrete steps for schools systems and school to implement.
• LDOE Diagnostic and Screener Guidance: This 5 page document provide supports to school systems as they administer a screener or diagnostic assessment to students and communicate each student’s readiness with parents.
• LDH Regional Services for individuals who would like to learn more about the behavioral health services toward suicide prevention in their areas.

RESOURCES FOR CHILD NUTRITION DIRECTORS AND STAFF

• LDOE Child Nutrition Division created a list of Meal Services by Parish During COVID-19 and provides information on each parish meal options.
• Louisiana Fit Kids’ COVID-19 Resources page provides links to USDA guidance, guidance for Child Nutrition programs, and information on waivers.
• Well-Ahead developed the Eat to Win materials to encourage students to each fruits and vegetable, so that they're eating to win at school and in life! These resources can be used during classroom meal service or non-traditional meal service.
• LDOE Nutrition Services shared three new resources for school system’s Child Nutrition Program.
  • Toolkit for Reopening School Meal Programs
  • PPE Vendors - OSP Reference
  • Strong Start 2020 School Nutrition Reopening Toolkit