The mission of the Health Center is to provide the best possible medical care for students while at the Indiana School for the Deaf. The Health Center staff strive to accomplish this goal in a manner which consistently creates a positive, pleasant, and productive health care environment for both students and staff. Families need to provide the Health Center with up-to-date health records for their child/ren including medication orders, medicines, and supplies. Please keep the Health Center informed of any changes related to your child’s medical needs.

It is necessary for all students at ISD to have their own home family healthcare provider. The Health Center and its staff should not be a substitute for this care. Basic health care will be provided to all students who become ill or injured while at ISD. Families will be contacted on a case-by-case basis when further care needs to be provided by their family doctor. Please do not use the Health Center as a substitute for your home family healthcare provider.

Please call the secretary of the appropriate department if your child will be absent due to illness or injury. A doctor’s excuse to return to school needs to be provided for any absence due to illness longer than five days, with the exception of chicken pox. The Health Center also needs up-to-date information about your child’s health insurance, including Medicaid, for medication and emergency needs. Please send a copy of any new or changed insurance cards by mail, fax (317) 614 0130 or e-mail ALL_HealthCenter@isd.k12.in.us.

Families will be notified immediately during school or after-school hours if their child is injured or becomes seriously ill. Families of residential students will be notified on an emergency basis during overnight hours. Families will be REQUIRED to pick up their child and transport them for further medical attention. If this is truly impossible, the Health Center will, based on limitations of staff availability, make a decision about the medical attention for your student. This policy helps avoid insurance glitches and ensures that your child will be more comfortable with a parent present during emergency medical care. The preference for emergency medical care is Methodist Hospital. (Special exceptions may consider insurance or specialty physicians). When a child returns to school following a fracture, surgery, or severe injury, please provide a physician’s note of treatment plans and activity restrictions (if they apply) and specify the applicable dates of restrictions.

The Health Center needs to be kept up to date about any allergies that your child may have to drugs, insects (bees), latex, or foods and the reactions that resulted. Because our Nurse Practitioner may see your student in your absence, he/she needs to be aware of any such allergies. Please contact the Health Center if you have any new information about allergies or just want to make sure we are aware of a previous allergy problem.

Please keep the Health Center informed about any medical updates on your child such as allergies, immunizations, medications, illnesses, etc. The Health Center requires an updated physical exam or well child check-up every three years. The phone numbers for the Health Center are: (317) 550-4818 (voice), (317 493-0497 (VP), (317) 871 4396 (Text). The Health Center fax number is (317) 614-0130. Fax services are available for families and/or physicians to fax orders and other medical information. The Health Center email address is ALL_HealthCenter@isd.k12.in.us.

The Health Center will provide: 

1. Administration of medications as ordered by the Health Care Provider. 

2. Administration of medical treatments as ordered by the Health Care Provider. 

3. Illness and injury assessment and evaluation by staff and bi-weekly nurse practitioner visits. 

4. Observation of potential abuse/neglect. All staff is to report observations to the designated school counselor. (Schools are required, by statute, to report suspected incidents. IC 31-6-11-3). 

5. Vision/Immunization Screening as required by Indiana State law or as requested by family or ISD staff. 

6. Ushers screening every 3 years with parental permission on a referral basis. 

7. Child psychiatrist services coordination. 

Student Injury at School Policy 

1. Families will be notified immediately if their child is injured while at school by the department secretary or the nurse in the Health Center. 

2. The Health Center will provide basic medical care, but the family is then responsible for picking up their child and transporting the child for further medical attention. 

3. Families are responsible for providing their own medical insurance for students attending ISD or ISD events. 

4. ISD does not accept any responsibility for injuries occurring at ISD. 

5. ISD will not reimburse families for medical expenses.

6. Families may file a tort claim with the Office of the Attorney General.

(Indiana Code: 511 IAC 7-36-9) 

The term “medication” is not limited to prescription medication but includes over-the-counter drugs. (Tylenol, cough suppressant, vitamins). ALL medication must be kept in the Health Center. Students may not self-administer medication without a specific doctor’s order to do so. Students who are found to be in possession of any medication both prescription and over-the counter will be subject to discipline – see student code of conduct. This discipline includes possible suspension. Medication must be administered by the school nurse or a designated school employee (during field trips, etc.). A school nurse will train any school employee designee, and it will be documented in the student’s health records. 

ISD will not administer any medication without a written and dated consent of the family. The families’ written consent is valid only for the period specified on the form and the current school year. We prefer that all medications be brought to school by the family. When this is not possible, please notify the Health Center that medication is coming with the student and where it can be found (suitcase, backpack, etc.). Also, any medications carried by the student should be sent in a carefully sealed envelope with the following information affixed:

• the student’s name 

• the medication names 

• name of the family member sending the medication 

• family member phone number 

• prescriber’s name and phone number, if appropriate 

Medication must be sent in the original container to be kept at school. You will, therefore, need to keep a supply at home for those times when your child is at home and in your care. If the medication should require a refill, the refilled medication must be sent in the original container in a sealed envelope with the signature of the family member (not the student). This is to ensure that all medication reaches the Health Center. A Health Center staff member will inform families/guardians when refills are needed. This notification will occur one week in advance of needed refill. Notification will be via phone call, letter, or email. Families will be responsible for the medication and should track the medication count and when a refill will be needed.

All medications must be given on the order of a licensed Health Care Provider and the label must contain the following information:

• the Health Care Provider’s name 

• the child’s name 

• specific directions for use 

• the exact name of the drug 

• the stop date for the medication (if any)

The Health Center reserves the right to request that day for the student’s medication be given at home! This applies primarily to any medication/treatments that involve the cumbersome process of sending the medication/treatments back and forth between home and school. This is especially true of antibiotics and in some cases behavior medications. This policy exists to provide optimal safety for the student and minimal disruption of the educational process.

The school Nurse Practitioner may discontinue the use of any drug prescribed if conditions warrant such action. Notification of this will be made to the family and documented in the student’s medical file. The Nurse Practitioner may reject any medication left by the family member that is not ordered by a licensed physician and is not deemed to be in the best medical interest of the student.

Any specific instructions for the medical care of the student must also be sent to the school in writing. It is the policy of the Nurse Practitioner to carry out the instructions of the prescribing Health Care Provider.

Guidelines for Illness The Indiana State Department of Health advises that “no child can attend school that is acutely ill or has a fever, cough, respiratory illness or diarrhea. If the child is present at school with those symptoms, the child should be temporarily removed from the school setting.”

Specific health conditions that could exclude your child from school include: 

1. Fever of 101 degrees or higher and fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT using fever reducing medication. 

2. Widespread, untreated rash. 

3. Vomiting and/or persistent diarrhea. 

4. Draining, red, or matted eyes. 

5. Serious respiratory infections with persistent cough, fever, and/or large amounts of green/yellow drainage. 

6. Chicken pox – may return to school when all blisters are scabbed over, and student is fever-free for 24 hours. 

7. Untreated lice or scabies 

Any student, who is suspected of having an acute illness, injury, or rash, should be sent to the Health Center for evaluation. Treatment, family contact, and possibly sending the student home are the responsibility of the Health Center staff. The Indiana State Department of Health develops guidelines and regulations for such actions with the appropriate modifications outlined by ISD’s Nurse Practitioner. As in all public school environments, cooperation between schools, health departments, physicians, and families are needed to control communicable diseases among school children. 

If families have any questions about any of these policies or any specific illnesses, they should contact the Health Center at (317) 550-4818 – voice, 317-871-4396 - text, or (317) 493-0497 - video phone. Immunization Policy

At the time of enrollment in any grade, it is the responsibility of the family of the student to provide proof of proper immunization in accordance with the current Indiana Code and Rules. On the student’s first day of attendance, if proof of proper immunization is not provided, that student will be in violation of Indiana State Law. (Waivers may be granted following Indiana Code section 20-8.1-7-10). Students may not attend school without proof of required immunizations or an acceptable waiver. Families should contact the Health Center if they have any questions regarding the current requirements or their child’s immunization status. 

Please check the Health Center section on www.deafhoosiers.com for the most up-to-date health concerns and health related topics.

POLICY: 

Students who discuss self-injury, suicidal and/or homicidal ideation or take action that results in purposeful self-harm are to be immediately referred to a counselor or their designee to the suicide/homicide risk assessment, which gathers pertinent details and initiate steps to ensure the student’s safety.

PROCEDURES: 

SELF INJURY OR TALK OF SUICIDE/HOMICIDE If a student makes a suicidal or homicidal comment or action: 

1. The student’s families will be contacted and given the facts regarding what has occurred. For all students, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will be called for consultation and then families will be informed of the instructions. The Aspire Crisis Hotline Number will be used for Aspire clients only and families will also be informed of the instructions after a consultation is completed. 

2. The number for families to call when in a crisis are: 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255

• Suicide Prevention/Crisis Hotline Text Line for the Deaf: 741-741

• Aspire Crisis Hotline Number: (800) 560 – 4038 (FOR ASPIRE CLIENTS ONLY) 

3. The Health Center charge nurse will be notified immediately for all crises. 

4. Families will be notified with a summary the child’s comment or action and results of the consultation. 

5. ISD will implement a safety plan and will communicate with the student’s teachers, residential advisors, and other staff if necessary. Families will receive a copy of the safety plan.

HOMICIDAL COMMENTS 

If a student makes a threat of harm toward another person(s), or any threat of violence that could cause harm to others, the “Crisis Protocol Step-by-Step Procedures” will be followed with the addition of the following step: 

1. The counselor, principal/dean of student, residential dean, chief of campus police, and other personnel as deemed necessary will develop a safety plan to ensure the students or staff member are safe. The team will determine if the student and/or families being named in the threat should be notified following guidance from the crisis counselor. 

2. If it is determined that the students and/or staff are in danger (per crisis call), then the ISD counselor who is following the Crisis Protocol will contact the persons and families. If the threatened person is a student, that student’s family must be contacted and informed of the threat and what is being done to protect the student. 

3. The principal/dean of students will follow the student-family handbook for any appropriate consequences to the student making the threat. 

4. ISD campus police will be notified based on the recommendations and instructions from the Crisis Line worker. chief of campus police will be forwarded a copy of the parent letter in cases of threats of harm (homicidal comments).

STUDENT INJURY OR ATTEMPTED INJURY 

If the student is in IMMEDIATE DANGER, Health Center will be contacted to inform campus police, (317) 550-4874 to call 911 if needed, or to help. Staff will notify parent(s) to meet at the hospital. 

IF UNABLE TO CONTACT FAMILIES: 

ISD staff will contact the student’s LEA and/or as a last resort, the local police to help make contact with the family. 

Safety Plan: A safety plan will be completed by the staff in charge and/or counselor and student. Copies of the safety plan are also given to appropriate staff members. This document will be available on the first day the student returns to school. 

STUDENT RETURNS TO SCHOOL/RESIDENTIAL 

If the student received a mental health assessment or a copy of release statement from a mental health professional, the statements will be given to the following people: 

• School Counselor 

• Principal 

• Classroom Teacher 

• Dean of Student 

• Residential Dean 

• Health Center 

The student will be seen within 24 hours by the assigned counselor. 

CRISIS OFF CAMPUS 

IF A CRISIS (suicidal or homicidal comment; student exhibiting dangerous or inappropriate behavior that may cause harm to self or others) OCCURS WHILE OFF CAMPUS (i.e. game, special event, field trip, etc.): 

1. The Crisis Procedures will be followed. 

2. IMMEDIATELY THE STUDENT WILL BE PLACED WITH A STAFF MEMBER AND STAY WITH THAT STAFF MEMBER. 

3. If that child is physically hurt, 911 should be contacted. Staff will contact one of the following contact numbers: 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255, 

• Suicide Prevention/Crisis Hotline Text Line for the Deaf: 741-741, or 

• Aspire Crisis Hotline Number: (800) 560 – 4038 (FOR ASPIRE CLIENTS ONLY) 

COUNSELING SERVICES 

ISD has counselors that provide a variety of services to students and families. The school counselors provide: 

• Social and emotional support to students 

• Individual/Group counseling 

• Support and training for staff and families 

• Liaison with mental health services 

• Support to all new students 

• Crisis management

FOOD SERVICE 

USDA National School Breakfast & Lunch Program ISD offers meals that are in compliance with the USDA National School Breakfast & Lunch Program. Day students are offered breakfast and lunch meals served in the cafeteria. Residential students will also get dinner served in the cafeteria. All students receive free and reduced lunch at ISD. All eligible students will complete the free and reduced lunch form. 

Dietary Restrictions 

The ISD follows the USDA guidelines in providing special dietary accommodations for students. The process for requesting special accommodations with specific dietary restrictions is:

1. The family will complete the Special Dietary Needs Medical Statement form (this requires a physician/medical authority to complete). The form can be obtained from the Health Center, please call and request a form from them or click on the link below to print: a. ENGLISH: https://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/nutrition/msf-pl-updated_0.pdf b. SPANISH: https://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/nutrition/spanish-medical-statement1222019.pdf 

2. Send the completed form to the Health Center, who will then, review and process the request. 

3. The Health Center will communicate with the family if additional signature or information is needed. 

4. The Health Center will communicate with the food service director, and IEP administrator for implementation of the dietary accommodation. 

5. The family can contact the Health Center or your child’s classroom teacher for further questions or concerns with the dietary accommodation. 

6. Any changes that are needed will require a new form to be signed off by a physician/medical authority. Gleaners School Based Food Pantry is available to students and families in need. Contact the student life administrative assistant for more information on how to access the Food Pantry at the ISD.