South Sioux City schools hire mental health nurses
10:48 AM
By Joanne FoxJournal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- We all know that a school nurse will provide TLC for children who suffer from a headache or a tummy ache. But what happens when symptoms are emotional or psychological?
To address those specific challenges of students, Cardinal Connections has sponsored the hiring of two mental health nurses. Jane Dixon and Courtney Greene engage in school activities, as well as community outreach, to increase awareness of mental health issues among the students, the teachers, the parents, and South Sioux City residents. Cardinal Connections is a school-community coalition that is funded by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice with a three-year Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative Grant of $1.8 million.
According to Connie Funk, Cardinal Connections project director, the organization surveyed students in grades 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 on times reflecting their perception of school safety, alcohol, tobacco, drug usage and mental health issues. More than 50 percent responded, saying their personal mental health was very important, as well as indicating they would search out a medical professional or mental health professional if they needed help with problems.
Dixon and Greene work in conjunction with others -- teachers, the principal, counselors, therapists, social worker, psychologist, speech pathologist -- to evaluate what approach might be used to help students better thrive in a learning environment. Parents are contacted, as well.
Prior to joining the South Sioux schools, Greene, a registered nurse, spent three years at the Boys and Girls Home and Family Services in residential treatment. She is a certified psychiatric mental health nurse. Dixon is a registered nurse and holds a bachelor's degree in nursing. She was a psychiatric nurse at Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City.
As part of its community outreach program, Cardinal Connections is coordinating a Health Fiesta. The event will feature community resources, healthy snacks and games for the entire family. It will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Dec. 2, at Siouxland Estates/Atokad Community Center, 1520 Atokad Dr., South Sioux City.
Read more of this story Friday in the Journal's print edition and online at siouxcityjournal.com.
To address those specific challenges of students, Cardinal Connections has sponsored the hiring of two mental health nurses. Jane Dixon and Courtney Greene engage in school activities, as well as community outreach, to increase awareness of mental health issues among the students, the teachers, the parents, and South Sioux City residents. Cardinal Connections is a school-community coalition that is funded by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice with a three-year Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative Grant of $1.8 million.
According to Connie Funk, Cardinal Connections project director, the organization surveyed students in grades 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 on times reflecting their perception of school safety, alcohol, tobacco, drug usage and mental health issues. More than 50 percent responded, saying their personal mental health was very important, as well as indicating they would search out a medical professional or mental health professional if they needed help with problems.
Dixon and Greene work in conjunction with others -- teachers, the principal, counselors, therapists, social worker, psychologist, speech pathologist -- to evaluate what approach might be used to help students better thrive in a learning environment. Parents are contacted, as well.
Prior to joining the South Sioux schools, Greene, a registered nurse, spent three years at the Boys and Girls Home and Family Services in residential treatment. She is a certified psychiatric mental health nurse. Dixon is a registered nurse and holds a bachelor's degree in nursing. She was a psychiatric nurse at Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City.
As part of its community outreach program, Cardinal Connections is coordinating a Health Fiesta. The event will feature community resources, healthy snacks and games for the entire family. It will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Dec. 2, at Siouxland Estates/Atokad Community Center, 1520 Atokad Dr., South Sioux City.
Read more of this story Friday in the Journal's print edition and online at siouxcityjournal.com.
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