CHARTER SCHOOL ANNUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year in Review & Leadership
School Nurse Day Proclamation
National Edge Runner 2023 Distinction
Introduction to Hawai‘i Keiki
Charter Health Services & Locations
Goals 1 - 5
YEAR IN REVIEW & LEADERSHIP
Aloha Mai Kākou,
I am pleased to report that Hawai‘i Keiki successfully launched its services to 10 public Charter Schools in the school year 2023-2024. This important partnership between the Hawai‘i State Public Charter School Commission and UH Mānoa Nursing allows for the Hawai‘i Keiki Program to improve access to care for public Charter School students resulting in overall increases in student health and wellness. More students can now return to the classroom instead of being sent home while also receiving health education that contributes to improved health awareness for both students, school staff and families.
This past school year, we received national recognition from the American Academy of Nursing as an exemplary nurse-led school-based health model. School nursing programs across the nation have adopted best practices from our program and reference our model as they build their programs. We could not be more proud that our program has made significant contributions of knowledge and practice in nursing across the nation.
In many communities across our islands, access to healthcare remains a significant challenge. The Commission’s investment in our program and partnership is a testament to their commitment to put into action a whole child approach to education educating the whole child. Evidence shows that healthy keiki have improved academic outcomes and are able to reach their full potential in school and beyond as an adult.
I would like to personally thank each and every one of our Hawai‘i Keiki Charter School and administrative staff for your creativity, passion and dedication to our program, the schools and keiki. Because of the critical support you provide, Charter School educators and school administrators are able to focus on educating students so they can learn, thrive and contribute as valuable members of our beautiful State of Hawai‘i.
In the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, Hawai‘i Keiki will celebrate its 10th year of providing school-based health services that are culturally responsive and tailored to the unique needs of each individual school and community. I look forward to the continued growth allowing for additional Charter Schools to benefit from school-based health services and success of our program and hope that we will continue to make positive contributions for our Charter School students.
Mahalo, PhD, APRN-Rx, CPNP, FAAN
Senior Practice Director (808) 956-8426, mattheus@hawaii.edu
Monica San Jose, Ed.D.
Business Operations Manager
(808) 853-7211, msanjose@ucera org
Laura Trinkle, MHA, LFACHE
Operations & Charter Specialist (808) 745-0126, ltrinkle@ucera.org
Connie Uluave, BSN, RN
Charter Supervisor (808) 798-6215, culuave@ucera.org
SCHOOL NURSE DAY PROCLAMATION
Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green issued a proclamation recognizing National School Nurse Day on May 8, 2024. In a ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2024, Gov. Green presented the proclamation to the Hawai‘i Keiki: Healthy & Ready to Learn Program, UH Mānoa Nursing, the Hawai‘i Department of Education (HIDOE) and the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Public Health Nursing Branch. Hawai‘i Keiki is the largest school nursing program in the State of Hawai‘i, with more than 50 school nurses in public schools.
National School Nurses Day highlights the unique contribution of school nurses and how students, families and the larger community in Hawai‘i can benefit from having easier access to equitable healthcare. It is a testament to the tremendous impact school nurses have on Hawai‘i communities and why the need for more school nurses is pertinent for a healthier future.
NATIONAL 2023 EDGE RUNNER DISTINCTION
In 2023, Hawai‘i Keiki was recognized by the American Academy of Nursing with the prestigious Edge Runner in recognition of Hawai‘i Keiki's innovative nurse-designed model of care that improves healthcare access to quality services in schools. This national recognition is a testament to the dedication of our Hawai‘i Keiki nurses who are committed to ensuring that public school students in Hawai‘i have equitable access to healthcare.
INTRODUCTION TO HAWAI‘I KEIKI
In 2014, the Hawai‘i Keiki (HK): Healthy and Ready to Learn Program was established in partnership with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) to provide access to school nursing services in Hawai‘i public schools. In 2023, in partnership with the Hawai‘i State Public Charter School Commission (Commission), the program expanded to service select Charter Schools.
HK sits at the intersection of education and health to promote healthier school communities and provide support for improved educational outcomes for students. The Program enhances and builds school-based health services that screen for treatable health conditions; provide referral to primary health care and patient centered medical home services; prevent and control communicable disease; and provide emergency care for illness or injury. Students succeed academically when they come to school ready to learn.
Five Core Hawai‘i Keiki Program Goals:
Reduce preventable health-related chronic absenteeism and minimize interruption to instructional time.
Enhance wellness in the school environment and community.
Promote optimal student health through preventive screening and effective services for chronic health conditions.
Collaborate with community partners and organizations to provide coordinated school health programs, services and resources.
Promote the nursing profession.
HK is committed to strengthening existing and building new relationships within the HIDOE, the Commission and with community stakeholders. HK contributes to improving student health outcomes by utilizing a variety of healthcare professionals to promote health and wellness, and increase access to health services at Charter Schools across the state. HK staff proudly deliver the HK mission and vision from a place of compassion with HEART and ALOHA. These values are the guiding principles that direct the program and culture.
CHARTER HEALTH SERVICES & LOCATIONS
HK Charter Health Team
The HK Charter Health Technician (HT) is located at the participating Charter School and manages the HK school-based clinic.
An HK Charter Registered Nurse (RN) provides school nurse visits to a set of assigned Charter Schools. The RN supports the HK Charter Health Tech and provides additional health services for students, health education and school health event planning.
The HK Charter Nurse Practitioner (APRN) who is dedicated to the Charter Commission partnership connects with the HK Charter Health Tech to provide virtual health services including diagnosis of common conditions and treatment.
2023 - 2024 Locations
Participating Charter Schools were provided with virtual and on-site health services. Operating hours varied by location to school operations.
DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach
Ka‘ōhao Public Charter School
Mālama Honua Public Charter School
Voyager: A Public Charter School
Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i Public Charter School
Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School
Kualapu‘u School: A Public Conversion Charter
Hawai‘i Academy of Arts & Science Public Charter School
Ka ‘Umeke Kā‘eo
Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School
O‘ahu
Kaua‘i Moloka‘i
Hawai‘i Island
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Reduce preventable health-related chronic absenteeism and minimize interruption to instructional time
Impact: Hawai‘i Keiki believes that regular school attendance can positively influence a student’s ability to perform academically and can ultimately improve their chances of reaching their full potential and aspirations. Students receiving school-based health services have minimal loss in their instructional time in addition to reducing the challenges faced by parents who may be required to take time off from work to travel to medical appointments. Once a school health visit is completed, the HK staff member communicates with the student's Primary Care Provider to ensure that continuity of care is maintained.
Visits
1,045 Unique Students seen
6,351 In-person health clinic visits with a HK HT
224 In-person health clinic visits with a HK RN or HK APRN
221 Virtual/telehealth visits for physical health concerns with a HK APRN
85%
Students returned to class instead of being sent home after a visit with a HK nurse or HT
Enhance wellness in the school environment and community
Impact: Hawai‘i Keiki enhances school and community wellness by supporting population-focused school health services by coordinating the distribution of vaccinations in select areas and guidance to reduce the spread of infectious diseases on school campuses. HK nurses promote wellness by providing schools with knowledge and understanding of health through education and training for students, school teachers, and administrators. HK nurses in coordination with the schools HK HT also provide students with health education on topics that contribute to health awareness, such as asthma, vaping, tobacco use, mental health, personal hygiene, and nutrition.
Training and Education
501 Students received health education by Hawai‘i Keiki
584 Charter School staff & administrators received health education or training
Promote optimal student health through preventive screening & effective services for chronic health conditions
Impact: Hawai‘i Keiki continues to grow its partnerships with community organizations that support in-school health screenings. Our partnership with Hawai‘i Dental Service (HDS) Foundation continued to grow with the Dental Sealant Program extending now to participating Charter Schools. HK’s partnership with Project Vision and Vision to Learn were also instrumental in helping to organize vision screenings and providing free prescription glasses for Charter School students in need. HK nurses also assisted school administrators with the evaluation of students with chronic medical conditions to determine any requirements for accommodations or health services to ensure all students have equitable access to a quality learning environment.
7 Community screening events (vision, hearing, and dental)
44 Students screened (vision/hearing)
17 Students screened (dental)
51 Sports physicals performed
91 Supports/Accommodations Assessments/Plans completed to help students succeed in school with needed services (EAPs, IEPs, IHPs and 504s)
Impact: Hawai‘i Keiki is committed to promoting school nursing as a profession and healthcare workforce. As a partner of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Nursing, HK contributes to the professional development of Hawai‘i’s future nursing and healthcare workforce. HK actively supports career fairs to increase student awareness and interest in the healthcare profession. HK nurses also provide on-going training and education for HK Charter Health Technicians and Charter School administrative staff to increase their life-saving and first-aid skills.
