Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to improve health and educational outcomes for children and adolescents in Minnesota by designating a public health school health services consultant within the Department of Health. This consultant will focus on the health needs of students in educational settings.

Main Provisions

1. Consultant Position: The bill requires the Department of Health to hire a public health school health services consultant.
2. Qualifications: The consultant must be a registered nurse and licensed as a school nurse in Minnesota, with at least three years of experience in school nursing. They need expertise in public health nursing related to school health and comprehensive knowledge of population-based school health issues.
3. Duties:
   • Develop and manage policies and programs addressing student health needs.
   • Support and advance professional skills of school health leaders.
   • Provide technical assistance and training on school health best practices.
   • Distribute resources to enhance school nurses' capacities.
   • Offer guidance for health promotion activities in schools.
   • Expand access to continuing education for school health professionals.
   • Collect data to evaluate the effectiveness of school health services.
   • Collaborate with the Department of Education and other agencies to coordinate health-related services.

Significant Changes

This bill introduces a new statutory requirement for the employment of a dedicated consultant focused on school health services, which marks a structured approach to addressing health in educational institutions.

Relevant Terms

• Public health consultant
• School health services
• Health promotion
• School health best practices
• Educational outcomes
• Health-related services