Keep Kids in School: A Collaborative Community Effort to Increase Compliance With State-Mandated Health Requirements

Abstract

Background: It is important that collaborative relationships exist in a community to improve access to needed services for children. Such partnerships foster preventive services, such as immunizations, and other services that protect the health and well-being of all children. Methods: A collaborative relationship in Illinois involving an academic health center, a school district, and county health department to address noncompliance with health examination and immunization requirements was formed. Parents were additional partners. Results: Examinations, screenings, and immunizations increased from previous year baselines. Greater fulfillment of health exam mandates resulted in fewer students (39% fewer) excluded from admission to school. Conclusions: The type of partnerships described is feasible and can result in improved health care for school-aged children who otherwise might be excluded both from health services and from school.