Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers

" Keeping Students Healthy and Ready to Learn "

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School Health Center Awareness Month

Awareness Month provides the opportunity to advance our policy priorities to sustain school health centers and to build and expand relationships with our partners in our communities. Now, is the time to build momentum by reaching out to elected officials, state and local leaders, and the general public about the importance of SHCs to Illinois' students and families. This year's Awareness Month will focus on 3 key activities, but there are a variety of ways to accomplish them depending on your time and capacity. The ICSHC has a variety of resources to help you in your efforts.

1.) Contact your elected officials about supporting your school health center

a. As you know from previous emails, there may be opportunities to fund school health centers through the Federal Stimulus package, a state capitol bill or increased funding for new school health centers in the state’s budget. Your elected officials need to hear about the needs of your school health center now!

Urge Senate President Cullerton and your legislators to include increased school health center funding in a Capitol Bill by going here to send an email. It is quick and easy!
Go to www.ilga.gov to locate your legislators’ contact information. Invite them to visit your school health center.

Send a letter or fax to your legislator’s office regarding the Federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act money being used for school health centers. A template is provided for you here.

Suggest funding your school health center with the federal stimulus money at http://recovery.illinois.gov/

2.) Attend the school health center Advocacy Day and School Health Center Rally on April 1^stin Springfield

a. Recruit students, school health center staff, advisory board members and parents and teachers to attend. Contact Megan at merskine@ilmaternal.org to find out more!

b. If you are planning on attending Advocacy Day, contact Megan immediately. RSVPs are due March 16^th and consents are due March 27^th.

i. Make posters for the School Health Center Rally

ii. Call your school’s Senator and Representative today! Ask to schedule a meeting while your group is at
the Capitol! You can find your legislator information at www.ilga.gov or in the Awareness Month Toolkit.

3.) Present the School Health Center PowerPoint presentation and share the new Fiscal Year 08 SHC Report
Card once at a meeting or an event!

a. Email the Why Care Power Point or Why Care Power Point You Tube to staff, your sponsoring agency, your school and other potential school health center supporters announcing that March is School Health Center Awareness Month! Go here to access the Why Care pdf, click here to direct people to the ICSHC homepage for the Why Care video link or email Megan at merskine@ilmaternal.org for the Why Care PPP.

b. There are 3 shortened versions of the PPP which include 15 -minute versions targeted for teachers, school nurses and students. All of the versions include the same video clips as the full 45 minute version. Email Megan at merskine@ilmaternal.org if you would like them emailed to you.

c. The Fiscal Year 08 Report Card is finished! This year, data is presented in a statewide, downstate, suburban Chicago and Chicago report cards. Please go here to download these very useful school health center advocacy tools.

Awareness Month Toolkit:

Toolkit Introductory Letter

ISBE Resolution

Awareness Month Evaluation and Tracking Form

Scheduling meetings with state legislators:

Scheduling a Legislative Visit