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Kora Anderson and team: school health leaders
In April of 2016, Kora Anderson, BSN, RN, NCSN, Health Services Coordinator for the Nevada R-5 district and High School Nurse, was notified she and her team had been accepted into the Johnson and Johnson School Health Leadership Program.
The team consists of Julie Heathman, BSN, RN, School Nurse at Benton Elementary School; Tracy Barmann, BSN, RN, School Nurse at Truman Elementary School; and Robin Daniels, RN, School Nurse at Bryan Elementary School.
Anderson, who serves as Community Coordinator and leader of this effort, was given the high honor of being named a 2016 Fellow in the school health leadership program.
Based at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N. J., the Johnson and Johnson School Health Leadership Program awarded the R-5 nursing team with a $1,200 grant, provided six days of intensive training for the members of each team and challenged the team to research, identify and tackle a fundamental school health related problem.
“I was notified we had been accepted in April last year, but things really got underway when our whole team went out to Rutgers later in the year,” said Anderson.”
The four-person team from Nevada had homework prior to attending the six-day Leadership Training Institute in July. Travel and accommodations were underwritten by the R-5 district.
“It was intense — we even had homework most nights — but it was so informative,” said Anderson.
The institute covered grant writing, cultural diversity, ways to gather and analyze data, a wide array of general and specific health information and how to determine strengths and weaknesses within their community. Prior to the end of training, each team gave a brief presentation to all present about things they learned which particularly struck them and initial thoughts about their community project.
“We were challenged to write and obtain a matching grant for the $1,200 we received from Johnson and Johnson,” said Anderson.
The R-5 team applied for and received a matching grant from Healthy Nevada.
Anderson said, “They were really excited about this program and wanted to encourage and partner with us.”
It would have been no surprise for the four nurses to have tackled say, something related to alcohol or drug use among students.
Said Anderson, “One of the things stressed at the training institute was how everything we did needed to be evidence based.” So instead of making assumptions, the team elected to bring in, feed and survey gatherings of adults and students. The three parent and single student survey sessions were called “community cafes.” The 60-75 minute sessions gathered information from 17 parents and seven students. The team asked survey participants to identify the barriers, which exist for themselves and their family in obtaining medical services, whether preventive, acute or chronic care.
“Several issues were mentioned but one was clearly the biggest barrier, and interestingly, this was true for parents as well as students,” said Anderson.
That issue is transportation. About half of those surveyed have a family vehicle or access to one.
The meetings served as a discussion platform. The team mentioned existing services such as Ozarks Area Transportation System as well as he city and private taxi services. Respondents identified cost, lack of space within these vehicles as well as limited hours of service.
“Mothers mentioned how there is not really space in a taxi to take multiple children and groceries, besides the cost and limited hours,” said Anderson.
High school students would be expected to name getting a car as being high on their wish list but when surveyed, students mentioned the need to get to a doctor or the health department for themselves or family members.
Another step in the whole process is a site visit by someone in the school health leadership program. On April 11, Eileen M. Gavin, MSN, a board certified family nurse practitioner and certified school nurse, came out from New Jersey. Her title is “Liaison, Mentor and Community Coach.”
“I think Ms. Gavin really enjoyed her visit and she was a big help to me and our team,” explained Anderson. “She was here the day we did the student survey. She sat in on that meeting and later told us she liked the “community cafe” model.
Anderson took the community coach to several schools and that way she met and spoke with the other team membe`rs.
These survey results confirm what Healthy Nevada had previously identified and is working on: transportation is a significant barrier for many, not just in the county or only among those with mobility issues but among young families in Nevada as well.
Anderson was aware of the group, which began in January — known as the Resource Team — has likewise identified transportation as a key problem for those trying to escape a life of crime, addiction or poverty.
“The next step is a meeting with Healthy Nevada in May,” said Anderson. “We will review previous information and discuss the next step in the process.”
And then?
“We have to speak to our stakeholders,” said Anderson. “In June, we are scheduled to make a presentation to the school board. We also need to speak with various medical people and others.”
There is the possibility for one or more members of the team attending a two-day event, late this fall, at Rutgers, to receive project reports and evaluate the program.
The 18 months will end this fall but there is an active alumni network of school health leadership program fellows across the United States and beyond.
When asked about the May meeting and its importance, it became clear another gathering that month was more on Anderson’s mind.
“In May, our family will be together when our twin girls, Cathryn and Elizabeth, graduate from Missouri Southern State University,” said Anderson.
With Kora will be husband Jake, a rancher, and older daughter Alaina Grewe, an actuarial who works in reinsurance in St. Charles, and her husband, Cory.
And what field are Cathryn and Elizabeth entering?
“Both will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and later will take their exams and become Registered Nurses,” said Anderson.
While they will work in different departments, each has a position lined up at Freeman Hospital, Joplin.
“While we stressed education, we never pressured our children about what to go into,” said Anderson. “But it is humbling and gratifying they want to go into nursing, a field which touches and helps so many.”
And right on cue, a student entered the high school nurse’s office and Anderson jumped up to help.