5 Ways to Advocate For Your Child’s Medical Needs at School

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Whether you are the parent of a fairly healthy child, a medically complex child, or somewhere in between, navigating the rules of public schools with regards to medication and other medical needs can be sometimes a little frustrating. While I’m no expert on the matter, I do have some first hand experience and advice I’ve learned from others to share with you.

1. The School Nurse

Get to know the school nurse. She (or he) is going to be your greatest help when it comes to navigating the the ins and outs of taking care of your child while at school. The nurse will get you the forms you need for your child’s physician to fill out. The nurse will also be the one your child sees for their medical needs. I try my best to get my child’s medicines to the nurse the day or two before school starts, as well as try to sit down and talk to her at length about my child. I also touch base at the end of the school year for blank medical forms to get filled out over the summer.

2. Forms

Whether it is over-the-counter or prescription medication, you will need to fill out forms to have on file. Most school districts now require a physicians signature on the form for over the counter medications as well as for the prescription meds. Please don’t show your frustration at this to the nurse. She didn’t make the rules, but she does have to enforce them. If you have a child who needs medication all the time you may know this. If your child tends to need medication once in a while, you may want to go ahead and get a couple blank forms so you can get your doctor to fill them out when you need to. There’s nothing like your child having an asthma attack and needing to suddenly go on around the clock breathing treatments over the next few days and you’re told by the school nurse that it can’t be done without the proper forms from your doctor.

3. Inform the Teachers

Your child spends majority of their time at school with the classroom teacher. Make sure you have taken the time to talk with your child’s teacher about his (her) medical needs. I strongly suggest talking to the teacher during a time she can really listen. Open house is not the night to expect her to remember all your child’s needs as well as the needs of the 24 other students in her class. I also recommend emailing them so the information is in black and white. Keep the lines of communication open. Also, anytime there is a dosage change, a new medicine added, or one taken away, inform the teacher so she can be on the lookout for any changes in behavior. Don’t forget to inform other teachers as well … related arts, afterschool care, etc.

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Contact your child’s teacher during a time you know she will have time to focus on your message – dinner time and open houses are not the right time

4. Phone Numbers

Make sure the school has current phone numbers and emergency contacts. If the school can’t reach you, then how can they help take care of your child when your child needs you most?

5. Ask Questions about Extra Needs

Some children need extra forms beyond those for medication purposes. My own children have emergency action plans and one has a health plan. Find out exactly what the school needs for these forms. Some schools have specific emergency action plans they prefer. Others are fine with the ones provided by your doctor.

For individualized health plans, you will need to ask a lot of questions. Doctors don’t necessarily know what a school needs in order to be in compliance with their regulations. For example, my child has to be fed a specialized formula via a feeding tube. These feeds have to be done at regular intervals throughout the school day. The school typically needs exact directions for mixing the formula, how much is allowed to be given at a time through the tube, the time intervals, etc.

I strongly encourage you to ask your child’s school first about what they need to be on the forms. You don’t want your child to not receive treatment over a form not being completed correctly. It doesn’t matter if you and your doctor talk frequently, make changes via phone or email based on current symptoms and needs. After all, that’s what my son’s doctors and I do all the time. However the school can’t honor those changes without an up-to-date, physician signed form. So ask those questions.

In order to advocate for your child’s medical needs you need to have a strong voice for your child. To do so, get to know the key players, keep those players informed every step of the way, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Do you have a child with special medical needs? What would you add to the list?

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Brandi Cade
Brandi Cade is a Christian, wife, mom, and Instructional Facilitator at a local elementary school. She is the youth coordinator and also teaches Sunday School for K-5th graders at her church. She married Mark in July 2004. Together they have 3 children: Bradley (10), Tori (8), and Aubrey (4). Bradley and Tori have taught her about parenting children with multiple medical needs. Fortunately their youngest is simply full of life and keeps Brandi and Mark on their toes that way. Brandi holds a BA in Early Childhood, an MA in Curriculum & Instruction, and two Certificates of Advanced Graduate Studies in Doctoral work in Instructional Leadership and Educational Leadership. As an Instructional Facilitator she works with teachers as well as students on best practices for learning in the classroom. Brandi loves the beach, music, reading, writing, blogging, sewing, and her new found interest: Bible journaling. Her newfound interest lead her to create the group Scripture Sketchers for local Bible Journaling fans. She hopes to turn this into a business within the next year or two. She is also a Beachbody Coach and works as an Independent Damsel Pro for Damsel in Defense.

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