TST BOCES - Tompkins · Seneca · Tioga

TST BOCES is introducing the School Health Systems Community Service Agreement (CoSer) for the 2024-25 school year, to support students and families across the region. The School Health Systems team consists of three clinical providers: a pediatrician and two physician assistants. As the first medical professionals to be embedded into this CoSer in New York State (NYS), they strive to support health as a building block to education.

The new CoSer will develop policies and procedures in line with New York State guidance, and will also fulfill NYS school health mandates. These mandates include managing sports clearance, providing support for school nurses, overseeing public health compliance, offering exams for students without a NYS medical provider, contributing expertise to CSE meetings, and providing health-related staff training. By centralizing services under TST BOCES, they reduce costs and eliminate redundancies by consolidating resources.

As they build the foundation of the program, they have an acknowledgement of both the regional health care shortages, and the need for wraparound care services for kids and families. They work to bridge and enhance the collaboration between families, schools and pediatric providers. Understanding that health and wellness are critical to learning, the initiative is designed to promote shared communication with existing mental health and pediatric services, thereby striving for students to have equitable access to the care they need.

As school health is re-imagined the team will focus on understanding community needs. Current initiatives include: coordinate care between schools and medical homes, strive for healthcare stability, expand the comfort of pediatric mental health care providers through education, facilitate food access in shortage areas, and collaborate with community partners to support student health.

The School Health Systems team has been instrumental in building the new Psychiatric Education for Pediatric Providers (PEPP) Certificate Program. This pilot program aims to address the shortages in mental health care providers and meet the increasing psychiatric needs within the community. Launched September 14. 2024, the certificate program is providing intensive training to prescribing pediatric providers in our region, by board certified adolescent and pediatric psychiatrists and psychologists from all across NYS. The 40-week PEPP program is expected to significantly enhance the ability of local providers to treat and manage psychiatric cases in students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Further strengthening the connection between health care and education, many of the clinicians selected for this program are primary care providers who already serve the TST BOCES community and may already be familiar faces to students in our districts.

The TST BOCES School Health Systems team is composed of Dr. Melissa Dhundale, Jessica Hoff, and John Smieska. Dr. Dhundale, is a pediatrician with eight years of experience as a school medical director. Jessica Hoff and John Smieska, both Physician Assistants, will support the initiative with their clinical expertise and commitment to outreach. Each member of the team brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for student health.

With seven TST BOCES school districts and TST BOCES already on board for this pilot program, the School Health Systems CoSer is set to be a game-changer in the region. The initiative not only aims to fulfill existing health mandates but also to proactively improve the overall health and well-being of students, ensuring they have the support they need to succeed both academically and personally.

For more information visit tstboces.org/schoolhealth or email schoolhealth@tstboces.org.