APRNs will serve Newcomer Academy and Multilingual Welcome Center
Dec. 20, 2023—A new $341,000 grant will help Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) provide onsite assessments and vaccinations for students new to the United States and students with limited English proficiency.
Through the “Promoting Immunizations in Underserved Populations Across the Commonwealth of Kentucky” grant, JCPS will provide continuous onsite support during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years at two JCPS locations serving high percentages of multilingual learners—the Office of Multilingual Learners Welcome Center and Newcomer Academy.
The grant, provided through the state’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services, will help JCPS address known health disparities impacting minorities and students living in poverty. District data shows that 90% of JCPS students who are not up-to-date on vaccinations qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 64% are students of color, said Dr. Eva Stone, JCPS manager of district health.
“Unfortunately, the healthcare system isn’t set up where people living in poverty can access things easily,” Stone said. “But access to healthcare is imperative if we want to successfully educate children. This is just another example of the work the district is doing to ensure equity for all students.”
Grant funds will pay to provide an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) at each location to serve as Vaccines for Children (VFC) coordinators and establish permanent VFC sites at each location. JCPS will also use grant funds to purchase a vaccine storage refrigerator and equipment for each site.
With parental consent, the APRNs and school nurses will perform assessments on, develop immunization plans for, and administer vaccines to students. The APRNs will also provide general healthcare, including access to stock medication and prescription medication as necessary, Stone said.
The district estimates each grant-funded APRN will serve 25 students per day.
Newcomer Academy serves middle and high school students who are new to the United States and whose primary language is not English. Navigating the U.S. healthcare system can be intimidating, especially for those who are also adapting to a new culture, and many students do not have access to the medications they need, said Juna Mangar, Newcomer Academy’s school nurse.
“This grant will have a big impact on our students’ health overall,” Mangar said.
Even families who do have access to healthcare might feel unsure about parameters and feel overwhelmed, said Newcomer Academy Principal Gwen Snow. This grant aligns with Newcomer’s goal to take the guesswork out of how to access care for families. The school has recently offered onsite immunization clinics, routine physicals, and vision, dental, and hearing screenings.
Newcomer families have loved the opportunities for accessible care in a space students know and trust with easy access to language support, Snow said.
As a result of this grant, Snow said she expects to see general student health, attendance, and academic achievement improve.
“Access to care makes such a difference for our students every day, and it keeps them in school and helps them focus more,” Snow said. “Having more onsite care will also help us connect students to our community healthcare services.”
By Juliann Morris