Asthma Management for Students
School Nurses are essential partners in helping students manage their asthma.
Click below for:
- Best practices for supporting students with asthma.
- Vermont State laws on access to emergency medications and environmental triggers.
- Downloadable tools and resources, including the Asthma Action Plan.
- Videos on proper device use.
- Nominating your school for an Asthma-Friendly School Award.
School Asthma Resources
School-Based Dental Services
The 802 Smiles Network helps Vermont children get the dental care they need by bringing together students, school nurses and staff, communities and healthcare providers. Created by the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Oral Health Coalition, 802 Smiles supports access to the best possible oral healthcare.
Members receive startup supplies, training, and technical support to implement school-based dental programs at whatever participation tier works for them.
Learn more about offering school-based dental services and how to get involved.
802 Smiles Network
Physical Activity and Nutrition
We work together with schools, communities, children and families to help advance children’s health with comprehensive, evidence-based practices to improve nutrition, physical activity, physical education and health education. A school wellness policy is a great first step towards creating this type of healthy, supportive school environment.
Click below to find more on:
- Vermont Agency of Education’s School Wellness Policy Guidelines.
- Key nutrition and physical activity strategies to ensure schools meet standards.
- Vermont partners working on improving health and academic outcomes for students.
School Wellness Strategies
Healthy School Buildings & Grounds
Helping schools maintain a healthy environment for students, teachers and staff is a priority. Creating a healthy school environment includes maintaining good indoor air quality and reducing exposure to toxic substances.
Check out our Guide for Healthy School Environments for:
- Requirements related to asbestos, lead-based paint, lead in drinking water, PCBs, radon, and safe cleaning products.
- Guidance on other ways to keep your school healthy, including managing indoor air quality, mold, pests, and more.
Environmental Health Guide for Schools
Immunization Requirements
Vermont law requires annual immunization reporting for regulated childcare programs, K-12 schools, and colleges to help protect against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Click below to learn more about:
- Reporting immunizations to the Health Department.
- Vaccine requirements for children enrolled in childcare, preschool and school.
- Checking individual children’s immunization records for compliance.
- Religious and medical immunization exemptions.
Student Immunization Requirements
Infection Prevention
Schools may see a wide range of illnesses, from respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses to vaccine-preventable diseases and skin and contact infections.
Vaccination and everyday prevention practices, like hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, routine cleaning and disinfection, and proper ventilation, help reduce the spread of infectious diseases and support healthy learning environments.
Click for resources to promote vaccination and everyday prevention practices in your school.
Respiratory Illness Season Toolkit
Sexual Health
Adolescence is a time of many physical, emotional, and social changes.
Comprehensive sexual health education helps youth develop skills they will need to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
Click the button below for sexual health education resources to support your work with students and their caregivers.
Information for Educators, Teens and Families
Substance Use
Alcohol, Cannabis, and Other Drugs
Schools can be powerful places for promoting youth substance use prevention and responding to overdose. We offer evidence-based resources and guidance to help:
- Promote substance use prevention and support in schools.
- Connect students and families with prevention, treatment, and recovery resources when they need support.
- Prepare your school to respond to a suspected overdose with free naloxone, training, and response guidance.
Check out our substance use prevention campaigns for youth and families, order free print materials, and find digital messaging materials here.
Substance Use Campaigns and Materials
Vaping and Nicotine
Learn what is being done to reduce vaping and nicotine use in Vermont—including the teen quit resource My Life, My Quit— and information for parents, school professionals, and student peers to help educate students about the risks of vaping or other nicotine product use.
More on vaping and nicotine
Suicide Prevention
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Vermont’s youth and young adults. Schools, families, organizations and communities must all work together to support the mental health of our youth and young adults.
Find a list of resources available for people experiencing mental health crises in Vermont.
Crisis and support services
