100 percent of participants in HSC’s school nurse leadership training reported changes in food in their school or district, and 89 percent reported changes in nutrition education and physical education.

School Nurses as Advocates

In the 2007 Illinois legislative session, HSC mobilized school nurses throughout the state to successfully advocate for legislation requiring green cleaning in schools. (Green cleaning reduces chemical exposures for children and adults in a school, improves indoor air quality, protects the health of staff who work closely with the chemicals, and often provides cost savings for schools.) After a very important committee vote early in the legislative process, one legislator said that he had been undecided on the bill but chose to support it because of a persuasive phone call he received from a school nurse.

At the district level, school nurses took the lead in developing and implementing wellness policies in ways that would make the most significant difference for children, teachers and staff.

HSC leverages the uniquely powerful school nurse voice to advocate for school health, and crafts our legislative agenda with input from an active, engaged school nurse advisory committee.

In 2008, HSC’s legislative agenda includes important support for school nursing, including providing more resources at the state level. Check back soon for HSC’s 2008 advocacy agenda including our legislative work with school nurses and our 2008 School Nurse Advocacy Day next April 16th, 2008.